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With part of MCU canon, which has afforded the animated series ample room to explore new and entirely unrelated plots.
X-Men 97 season 1 began streaming on March 20, 2024, and picked up with X-Men dealing with Charles Xavier's absence and its effects on mutant-human relations. With many of the same characters returning, so did much of the voice cast of the original series, though it is not entirely composed of the same contributors.
X-Men '97 Season 2 Latest News
Show's Original Creator Says Season 2 Is Stalled
While season 1 of X-Men '97 was a massive success for Marvel Studios, it seemed like everything leading up to season 2 was going smoothly, but recent comments from Beau DeMayo seem to indicate some struggles the new season has faced. DeMayo, the show's original creator before being removed prior to season 1's premiere, took to social media to say that the new season is currently stalled following a disastrous friends and family screening.
While this statement should be taken with a grain of salt, it is interesting to hear that Marvel Studios has struggled to get season 2's production to run smoothly, as Beau DeMayo states that, even with a year of reshoots and rewrites, it still seems like they don't exactly know how to work with what he left them, as it was "too adult and comic-book." If true, though, it is rough to see X-Men '97 season 2 stumble after the first season was so well-beloved.
X-Men '97 Season 2 Is Already Confirmed
The Show Is Coming Back
X-Men '97 season 2 was approved before the first season began streaming. Disney's preemptive approval is likely thanks in part to the fact that the series has no bearing on the wider MCU narrative, meaning it doesn't need to be as wary of the narrative negatively affecting the cinematic franchise as a whole. As it stands, however, X-Men '97 is garnering rave reviews.
All 15 Marvel Easter Eggs & References In X-Men '97 Episode 1 & 2
X-Men '97's premiere is here with the first two episodes, featuring a collection of exciting Easter eggs to the comics and original animated series.
Beau DeMayo served as head writer and creator of X-Men '97 seasons 1 and 2 and completed work on season 2 before being fired in March 2024, just days before X-Men '97 season 1 began streaming. Reasons surrounding DeMayo's departure remain unclear, but Marvel Studios' head of streaming, television, and animation, Brad Winderbaum, remains confident of the talent pool that can pick up where DeMayo left off (via Entertainment Weekly).
X-Men '97 Season 2 Production Status
Production Has Been Ongoing For Over A Year
Production began on X-Men '97 season 2 in September 2023, meaning that by the point of the season 1 finale in May 2024, the sequel season had already been in the works for several months. However, it may also need a longer production window, as Marvel cut ties with season 1 showrunner Beau LeMayo shortly before the first episode of the show was released, meaning the production process likely also needed to for this not inconsiderable change, though LeMayo had reportedly finished up with his own writing duties for the second season before this took place.
Lenore Zann, voice actress for Rogue, spoke with update on both season 2 and season 3. She revealed that the cast had "finished recording Season 2, and that will be coming out in 2026." This is an exciting update for X-Men '97, but the 2026 release date could disappoint some who were hoping to see these characters back quicker. Still, the wait between season 2 and 3 might not be as long, as Zann also stated that she was "about to start to go into the studio next week to start on season three, so I've got lots to look forward to."
With Beau Demayo's comments, who was the original showrunner, about the second season being stalled, it is possible that X-Men '97 could be pushed back from a 2026 release date.
X-Men '97 Characters & Cast
The Voice Cast Is Returning
X-Men '97 Cast |
X-Men '97 Character |
|
|---|---|---|
Cal Dodd |
James "Logan" Howlett/Wolverine |
|
Lenore Zann |
Anna-Marie Raven / Rogue |
|
Lawrence Bayne |
Carl Denti / X-Cutioner |
|
Matthew Waterson |
Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto |
|
Ross Marquand |
Professor Charles Xavier/Professor X |
|
Ray Chase |
Scott Summers/Cyclops |
|
Jennifer Hale |
Jean Grey |
|
Alison Sealy-Smith |
Ororo Munroe/Storm |
|
Gil Birmingham |
Forge |
|
Adrian Hough |
Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler |
|
JP Karliak |
Morph |
|
George Buza |
Dr. Henry McCoy/Beast |
|
Holly Chu |
Jubilation Lee/Jubilee |
|
Isaac Robinson-Smith |
Lucas Bishop |
|
Gui Agustini |
Roberto De Costa |
|
So far, only three voice actors have confirmed that they began working on X-Men '97 season 2 as far back as February 2023. Despite this, it can be comfortably assumed that most, if not all, of the voice actors from X-Men '97 season 1 will be reprising their roles based on the first season's ending, which showed the majority of the X-Men alive, albeit having been warped through time.
Interestingly, this also included the reveal of a young Nathan Summers, which leaves the matter of Cable voice actor Chris Potter's return unclear at this time - though he may return as Cable's adult self, with the child Nathan played by another actor instead. Indeed, it even appears that A.J. LoCascio may be reprising his role as Gambit based on the ending of the show, which appeared to reveal that Apocalypse may be looking to revive the currently dead X-Men hero to bring him in as one of his Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
DeMayo stated that one of the reasons behind replacing certain veterans was authenticity - such as in the case of Jubilee, who is now portrayed by Asian-American actor Holly Chou. Lawrence Bayne, who confirmed he would be returning in season 2, had originally voiced Nathan Summers/Cable in X-Men: The Animated Series but was replaced by Chris Potter due to reasons surrounding "intonations" which better convey Cable and Cyclops' father-son relationship (per Entertainment Weekly).
Bishop could also see a more significant role in season 2 and beyond of X-Men '97, as Isaac-Robinson Smith, the voice actor for the character, recently expressed his desire to explore the character even more in the season, something that could be exciting for not only the fans of the character, but the series as a whole.
X-Men '97 Season 2 Story
Apocalypse Is Likely To Play A Big Role
X-Men '97 season 1 closes with the majority of the cast being shown flung throughout time as a result of the chaos of the end of the first season, with Scott and Jean shown meeting a child version of their son in 3960 AD, and Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler sent to 3000BC, wherein they discover what appears to be a young Apocalypse. Forge is left trying to find the missing X-Men, with Bishop appearing to lend him a hand retrieving his missing comrades from their temporal traps.
"I Just Can't Wait For Everyone To See It:" X-Men '97 Production Update Revealed & Apocalypse Story Teased By Star
X-Men '97 star Ross Marquand reveals just how far the series' second season is in production, teasing what comes next for Apocalypse's story.
All in all, the storyline sets up a prospective villain return via its tease of Apocalypse, who also appears in the post-credits scene within the modern timeline - and suggests X-Men '97 season 2 will possibly be split into four separate story chunks, as it's currently notably unclear where Wolverine, Storm & Morph are. This is especially crucial, as X-Men '97 season 1 also showed Wolverine enduring sheer agony as Magneto split the adamantium that coated his bones from his skeleton, suggesting the trio may be sharing a storyline that tries to help Logan heal.
X-Men '97 Season 3 Is Also In Development
There's More To Come After Season 2
Those who've loved X-Men '97 will be glad to know that season 2 isn't the end of the journey by far, as X-Men '97 season 3 is already being worked on. This was confirmed as per an April 2024 interview with Phase Zero from Marvel Head of Streaming Brad Winderbaum, who explicitly stated that the third season was in process.
As the X-Men series has such a wealth of storylines to adapt from - and X-Men '97 season 1 has been received with such considerable critical praise - ensuring the series continues for as long as suits the overarching narrative it aims to tell is an ideal approach to the animated installment. Hopefully, X-Men '97 seasons 2 and 3 will continue to uphold the high standard the first has put in place for the show, and may even up the ante in some regards as the series continues to develop and grow.
X-Men '97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel's revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
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