Mutant X was created under a Marvel Comics license but has no actual connection to the Mutant X comic book series; it was created by Avi Arad and described as where 'X-Men meets The Matrix'.

Despite being announced for a fourth season, the series was abruptly cancelled in 2004 after the dismantling of Fireworks Entertainment, one of its production companies, leaving the show on an unresolved cliffhanger.

On April 15, 2001, 20th Century Fox sued Marvel, Tribune Entertainment, and Fireworks Entertainment for breach of licensing agreement, claiming Mutant X was too similar to X-Men and was being advertised as an 'X-Men replacement'.

Marvel countersued Fox, arguing the two properties were dissimilar, and courts allowed production of Mutant X to continue as long as X-Men material wasn't used in its promotion.

Fox and Marvel settled their lawsuit confidentially on March 9, 2003, but Tribune continued suing Marvel for fraud and breach of contract, claiming Marvel encouraged them to link Mutant X to X-Men and caused millions in losses from having to alter storylines to maintain distance from the X-Men brand; this dispute was settled out of court in November 2005.

The series was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In May 2002, Marvel Comics released a tie-in comic titled Mutant X: Origin chronicling the early life of Adam Kane, followed by a second tie-in comic, Mutant X: Dangerous Decisions, in June 2002.