5) A Rich Collection Of Influences
While Legion might get its core subject matter from the pages of X-Men comics, Noah Hawley has weaved together his unique take on the superhero genre from a variety of sources.
In particular, the influence of many of the most individual directors in Hollywood can be felt on the show. Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most obvious, not least in the Clockworks asylum being named after A Clockwork Orange. The unashamed surreality of the series also heavily recalls the work of David Lynch, while there’s also a lot of Wes Anderson to Legion, in particular the 60s-infused oranges and browns of the decor. We can also detect some David Fincher, The Matrix and The X-Files in there, too.
The psychedelic music of Pink Floyd is also said to be a big influence on the show (as it was on Doctor Strange). In fact, Hawley couldn’t resist inserting another nod to one of his inspirations, as Rachel Keller’s character has the full name Sydney Barrett AKA the ex-guitarist of the English rock band.
It’s a heady cocktail of inspirations, then, and we look forward to seeing how Legion draws from each of them to create something truly unique.
