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This article contains spoilers for "Eyes of Wakanda."

Comic book movies and television shows are always grasping at the feeling of "epic" storytelling, but live-action budgets and precious runtime often thwart these plans before they can even get rolling. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a lot of massive fan-favorite moments occur because there's been a lot of build-up ahead of time. But, "Eyes of Wakanda" is the latest show from Marvel Animation that shows how the studio could be building toward a massive crossover moment without the burden of squaring that with the larger MCU. The last episode of the Marvel event series, titled "The Last Panther," sprinkles in more teases for a large-scale animation throwdown with an appearance from The Watcher during a crucial moment of the story.

"The Last Panther" introduces us to Prince Tafari and Kuda, who are on a mission to reclaim stolen vibranium artifacts. Of course,...

Yesterday, we reported on a rumor that Scream star Neve Campbell had been cast as Polaris in an upcoming Marvel project. We didn't have much more to go on initially, but it was assumed that she would wither play the character in Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot, or appear in Avengers: Doomsday alongside the returning 20th Century Fox era actors.

A trusted source later reached out to tell us that Campbell would actually be voicing Polaris in season 2 of the X-Men '97 animated series, which former showrunner Beau DeMayo has now confirmed.

Incorrect. I cast her as Polaris in Season 2 of #xmen97. She does amazing work bringing something new, and felt right to have a 90s icon pick up where Lorna’s story was left in “Cold Comfort.”

She’s got some thoughts on Genosha. https://t.co/WKrSbghWsu

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 13, 2025

Dr. Lorna Sally Dane, aka Polaris, was introduced in the late '60s,...

Rogue voice actor Lenore Zann touched upon X-Men '97 Season 3. This comes after X-Men '97 got a disappointing Season 2 update.

Zann brought this subject up during an Indiana Comic Convention panel (via Collider), avouching, "I'm about to start to go into the studio next week to start on season three, so I've got lots to look forward to." Putting the spotlight on X-Men '97 itself, ex-showrunner Beau DeMayo delved into how it continues X-Men: The Animated Series' story in 2024, asserting at the time that every design choice was a clue to the storylines the production team was doing and that nothing arbitrary. "[The other reason was to] throw the X-Men back to a time where they're thinking about: What part of this do I want to keep?" he continued. "Was it truly simpler back then, or were we just more naive?"

Besides these bit of news, production head and director Jake Castorena hinted at more Marvel cameos in upcoming episodes,...

Late last year, a rumor did the rounds that the highly-anticipated second season of X-Men '97 wouldn't premiere until 2026, and the lengthy wait has now been confirmed by Marvel's Brad Winderbaum.

"Season 2 of X-Men ‘97 is going to be in ‘26. We're working on it now," Winderbaum tells Collider. "It's exciting. That world of the ‘90s is just… Honestly, I can't believe they let me make it. I grew up at Marvel, as you know, clocked a lot of time here, and I feel like I used a lot of currency to revive this thing that I loved watching after school. So, the fact that we get to play in that universe with those actors is honestly why I went into this business in the first place."

When asked if we could expect more animated shows - and possibly a feature - to be announced soon, Winderbaum played it a little closer to the vest.

The animated hit X-Men '97 is officially a Critics' Choice Award-winning show.

At the Critics' Choice Awards, X-Men '97 picked up the win for Best Animated Series. While the series was heavily praised upon release, it still marks an impressive win for the show. Among the other nominees was Disney's Bluey, which was just named as the most-streamed animated series. The other nominees included Batman: Caped Crusader, Bob's Burgers, Invincible, and The Simpsons.

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X-Men '97 was previously nominated for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, which ultimately went to Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai. The show has also garnered nominations while missing out on getting the win at other awards shows,...

Beau DeMayo, who initially led as the showrunner and head writer for X-Men ’97, parted ways with Marvel Animation before finishing the second season. According to Marvel Studios, he was fired due to allegations of sexual misconduct. However, DeMayo claims that his dismissal was retaliation for calling out racist and unethical behavior within the studio.

DeMayo has made several serious accusations against Marvel Studios. One of DeMayo’s most striking allegations involves the casting of Storm. While some roles from X-Men: The Animated Series were recast, Allison Sealy Smith returned to voice Ororo Munroe. DeMayo asserts that this wasn’t Marvel’s original plan.

He claims the executives initially wanted an actor who sounded more ‘African’ and even cast someone else, as seen in Marvel Studios: Assembled – The Making Of X-Men ’97. They later reversed this decision, considering it a mistake.

I really want this show to be good but this...

Beau DeMayo served as X-Men '97's showrunner/Head Writer but parted ways with Marvel Animation before completing work on season 2. If you believe Marvel Studios, he was fired for sexual misconduct; however, DeMayo's story is that those claims - and his firing - were retaliation for calling out racist, unethical practices.

DeMayo has made several damning allegations about Marvel Studios. Whether those are the outbursts of a disgruntled former employee or a glimpse into what the studio is really like is something only you can judge.

Regardless, he's just made some bold claims about X-Men '97's storm. While some X-Men: The Animated Series roles were recast, the legendary Allison Sealy Smith returned to lend her voice to Ororo Munroe.

If DeMayo is to be believed, that wasn't always the case as Marvel executives initially decided they needed an actor who sounded more "African." It appears they got one...

A new rumor for X-Men '97 shoots down hopes for any non-Gambit returns. Before this, Rogue actor Lenore Zann praised X-Men '97 for its Primetime Emmy Award Nomination.

Per The Cosmic Circus, insider Alex Perez shared this claim when asked if fans could "expect any of the mutants that died at Genosha other than Gambit to return," like perhaps Madelyne Pryor, in a Discord Q&a session, professing, "Probably not." Circling back to Zann, Zann teased Rogue's Season 2 storyline, avowing that there are Easter eggs in there for "fans to follow up."

Related 'Smear Campaign': Fired X-Men '97 Showrunner Rejects Marvel's 'False' Allegations

Beau DeMayo claims Marvel has been spreading "lies" about him following his firing from X-Men '97.

She went on to further note, "In Season 2, I have already recorded Season 2, and I love Rogue's journey. She is continuing on her journey, and she wants justice for...

Back in March, the surprising news broke that Marvel Studios/Disney had fired X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo shortly before the animated revival show's world premiere.

Since then, the internet has been rife with rumors and speculation about what might have led to DeMayo's dismissal, and last month, Marvel finally released a statement on the matter.

"Mr. DeMayo was terminated in March 2024 following an internal investigation. Given the egregious nature of the findings, we severed ties with him immediately and he has no further affiliation with Marvel."

Though no specific details were revealed, we have since heard that DeMayo was terminated for sending lewd photos to members of his staff, and there have been further reports of him being physically and sexually inappropriate with several of his colleagues.

DeMayo has denied this, suggesting that his firing was simply due to homophobia, and claiming that he was stripped of his X-Men '97...

Although it's only been a few months since X-Men '97 Season 1 ended, fans have been eager to learn about the upcoming second season. Jennifer Hale, who voices Jean Grey in the animated series, recently hinted at what viewers can expect from Season2.

"All I will say is buckle up," Hale told ComicBook when asked about the highly anticipated second X-Men '97 outing. "I can tease nothing... nothing. I'm making [it] a practice not to say a word about anything. I don't even mention I'm in something until I see the producers and the creators say something online. I just don't do it. I don't risk it. I don't want to be the one who screws the thing up," the actor said, explaining the reason for her extremely vague answer.

Related X-Men '97 Season 3 Gets New Head Writer Following Beau DeMayo's Exit

Following Beau DeMayo's exit as head writer, Marvel Animation...

Marvel's X-Men '97 draws inspiration from classic X-Men comics released before 1997. Key issues include Magneto's trial, Wolverine's battle, and the introduction of Goblin Queen. Fans can access these comics on Marvel Unlimited or purchase them digitally on Amazon for more X-Men adventures.

The hit series, X-Men '97 stems from comics by nature of it being an X-Men adaptation. However, the creators of the hit Marvel animated series have revealed some of the specific comics that inspired the show. These series and issues are readily accessible for X-Men '97 fans to read.

X-Men '97 (2024), picked up where the X-Men animated series that aired from 1992-1997 left off. It quickly became a fan-favorite series with a second season on its way and a third in development. However, with the first season being over, there's a desire for more of the X-Men series ahead of its return.

Marvel officially shared a...

X-Men '97 executive producer Brad Winderbaum recently avowed that Season 2 will have two new teams. Prior to this, ex-showrunner Beau DeMayo shared a series goal with X-Men '97 before his sudden firing.

Per Collider, Winderbaum brought this topic up during a Q & A session when asked what he, supervising producer Jake Castorena and director Emi/Emmett Yonemura could tease about the project, professing, "There's many teams, in Marvel, that have the letter 'X' that are followed by a hyphen. I would put it to you like this there's two other X teams in Season 2."

Related Ex-X-Men '97 Showrunner Threatens Legal Action Against Disney for 'Gaslighting' and Credit Removal

X-Men 97 has an incredible first season, so why did its creator lose his credit on Season 2?

Before this bit of news, Castorena hinted at more Marvel cameos in upcoming episodes in April, remarking at the time that on the production team's end,...

Every mutant in the world of the “X-Men” has some sort of physics-defying superpower, from Jean Grey’s (Jennifer Hale) peerless telekinetic prowess to Scott Summers’ (Ray Chase) laser eyes to Wolverine’s (Cal Dodd) claws that go snikt. But the power at the heart of the appeal of Disney and Marvel’s animated series “X-Men ‘97” is the show’s ability to bridge time and make the current moment in animation feel like days of future past.

“X-Men ‘97” is, in the words of head director and supervising producer Jake Castorena, meant to be a direct spiritual successor to “X-Men: The Animated Series,” the iconic 1992 series produced by Saban Entertainment that ran until 1996. The new show, created by Beau DeMayo (who was subsequently fired from the project before it premiered), returns to many of the same characters, settings, and relationship dynamics, even to many of the same voice actors as the original.

A.J. LoCascio, the voice actor for Gambit/Remy LeBeau in the critically acclaimed series X-Men '97, has put his unique spin on Channing Tatum's now-iconic line from Deadpool & Wolverine.

In a recent social media post, LoCascio shared a clip of himself delivering the line in Gambit's distinct New Orleans Cajun accent. The post humorously captioned the clip, "'Wooimbouttamakeanameformyselfere' X-Men '97 Gambit Edition." LoCascio took over the role of Gambit from Chris Potter in the animated series.

"Wooimbouttamakeanameformyselfere" X-Men '97 Gambit Edition pic.twitter.com/0BSAiHHYL6 Josh Matt Murdock is Back!!! (@celestialdevils) August 10, 2024

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X-Men '97 is officially slated to introduce a whole host of fan-favorite characters in the animated series' upcoming second season.

As revealed at D23, several iconic characters from the pages of Marvel Comics are about to receive their debuts in the hotly-anticipated second season of X-Men '97. These include Polaris, Havoc, and the living embodiment of the Danger Room known as Danger. It was also reported that classic franchise villain Apocalypse will be making an appearance in Season 2 of the hit animated series.

Related 'I'm Here for It': X-Men '97's Gambit Voice Actor Loves the Crop Top Look

In X-Men '97, Gambit rocks a crop top. Voice actor A.J. Locascio "loves the '90s look" and fans are embracing the bold new style.

Created by Beau DeMayo, X-Men '97 premiered on March 2024 on Disney+ as a revival of the original X-Men: The Animated Series which ran from 1992 until 1997. The...

Marvel has revealed the first look of X-Men ’97 Season 2 for fans who attended D23 and Beau DeMayo’s comment for it sounds promising. DeMayo was the lead writer and showrunner of the first season and he was largely involved in the second season as well. However, he left the series before the premiere of the first season for yet-to-be-confirmed reasons.

Grant Morrison’s run of X-Men comics | Marvel Comics

DeMayo shared that the announcements regarding the second season sounded promising and aligned with his creative vision. Brad Winderbaum, the Head of Animation and Television at Marvel, showed up for the panel at D23 alongside voice actors Cal Dodd and Lenore Zann.

Beau DeMayo’s Comments After X-Men ’97 Season 2 Update At D23 Sound Promising For Fans X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo (via Instagram)

Brad Winderbaum released a few major updates about the second season of X-Men ’97. During the Marvel Animation presentation,...

Ex-x-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo recently shared an unused song from "Remember It." Prior to this, DeMayo shared both a piece of fan art of himself and a series goal with X-Men '97 before his sudden firing.

Over on X, DeMayo posted a link to a video for Ennio Morricone and Joan Baez's "Here's to You." Above the video, DeMayo professed that he toyed with the idea of "having the Wild Sentinel blasting this song during Genosha's fall to mock mutants," concluding, "An angle on Bastion was that he would be obsessed with oldies. Obviously, some lived with 'Purple People Eater.'"

Related 'I'm Here for It': X-Men '97's Gambit Voice Actor Loves the Crop Top Look

In X-Men '97, Gambit rocks a crop top. Voice actor A.J. Locascio "loves the '90s look" and fans are embracing the bold new style.

Fun fact. Originally, I toyed...

Take a look at more footage from Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ‘97” now streaming on Disney+:

Cast includes Ray Chase as ‘Cyclops’, Jennifer Hale as ‘Jean Grey’, Alison Sealy-Smith as ‘Storm’, Cal Dodd as ‘Wolverine’, Jp Karliak as ‘Morph’…

…Lenore Zann as ‘Rogue’, George Buza as ‘Beast’, Aj LoCascio as ‘Gambit’, Holly Chou as ‘Jubilee’, Isaac Robinson-Smith as ‘Bishop’, Matthew Waterson as ‘Magneto’…

…Adrian Hough as ‘Nightcrawler’, Theo James as ‘Bastion’ and Chris Potter as ‘Nathan Summers’/‘Cable’.

Directors include Jake Castorena, Chase Conley and Emi Yonemura, with music by The Newton Brothers.

Click the images to enlarge…

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Rogue actor Lenore Zann recently praised X-Men '97 for its Emmy nomination. Prior to this, X-Men: The Animated Series director Larry Houston sang the praises of X-Men '97's cameo-based legacy in May, remarking at the time that it was fun to see his "unauthorized use of cameos fully embraced by the highly-talented X-Men '97 team," albeit now with full official clearances.

In response to a post on X from the X-Men Updates account which professed that X-Men '97 had been "nominated for [Emmys] in the Outstanding Animated Program category for Episode 5: 'Remember It,'" Zann avowed, "I've said all along it's a team effort to create an animated series as superb as [X-Men: The Animated Series] and [X-Men '97]. Congrats To Our Entire Cast And Creative Team. Onwards and upwards. Excelsior!" Before this, Zann touched upon how X-Men: The Animated Series saved lives.

Related X-Men '97 Season 3 Gets New...

X-Men '97 Taps What If...? Writer as the New Showrunner for Season 3 - Main Image

X-Men '97 has finally tapped a new writer who will take over as the showrunner for season 3, which is currently in development.

Before the series premiered, the original head writer Beau DeMayo was notably fired by Marvel Studios after working for two seasons. Up to this day, it is still unknown why he was let go from the position.

Since then, fans have been curious to find out which new writer Marvel will hire to take over the daunting task of continuing the show's acclaimed run in its upcoming seasons.

Matthew Chauncey Set as New Writer for X-Men '97 Season 3

It was recently confirmed that What If...? writer Matthew Chauncey has been tapped to serve as the new head writer/showrunner for X-Men '97 season 3.

DeMayo already wrote the scripts for the second season, which has reportedly been revised,...

Beau DeMayo was fired as X-Men '97 showrunner back in March prior to the show's world premiere, but he had already completed work on the scripts for the second season of the acclaimed animated revival series.

Now, Marvel Studios has hired a new scribe to replace him for the in-development season 3, with Deadline reporting that Matthew Chauncey, who has previously worked on episodes of What If...? and Ms. Marvel, will succeed DeMayo as head writer on X-Men '97.

Chauncey will work alongside director Jake Castorena, with original '90s series EPs Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald remaining on board as consulting producers.

Exact season 2 plot details are still under wraps, but during a recent interview with Discussing Film, Castorena was asked if they intend to hold on to the '90s aesthetic, and if he anticipates the show taking influence from later comic book runs for the second season.

X-Men ’97 is unarguably one of the best shows released by the MCU to date. Succeeding its original animated series from 1992, this show became a massive fan favorite almost as soon as it dropped. The reason behind this was pretty understandable: It brought back all of those themes that the original series sported, bringing back nostalgic memories along with newly created storylines.

X-Men ’97. | Credit: Disney+.

If anything, one of the greatest reasons why this show received such immaculate critical success was because it didn’t try to modernize its animation and themes too much. That being said, the President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige dodged a major bullet by opting for this take, considering how choosing otherwise would have been something many fans wouldn’t have been able to forgive.

Kevin Feige Dodged a Major Bullet with X-Men ’97

One of the biggest reasons why X-Men ’97 managed to...

Spoiler Alert!This article contains Spoilers for X-Men '97!

A small detail that makes a big difference. When it comes to the MCU, nothing happens by accident and nothing should go unnoticed. Also, it’s already very clear that the studio’s production strategies are different.

Still from X-Men ’97 (Marvel Studios)

The cinematic universe used to follow the narrative of the comics, that’s a fact. However, it’s been a while since the MCU decided to invest in elements that could take the stories in other directions than those in the pages. X-Men ’97 came to show a new approach from the studio, and something subtle indicated much more about a specific scene.

The Missed Detail in the X-Men ’97 Scene Wolverine in episode 9 of X-Men ’97 (Marvel Studios)

The MCU has been facing a lot of problems in terms of ratings, but for loyal fans, X-Men ’97 is here to change that.

X-Men 97 is reshaping its team one step at a time after its creator and original scribe, Beau DeMayo, took a permanent leave from his time with Marvel Studios. Now, we finally have word of who will take over at the helm of storytelling as What If? alum, Matthew Chauncey, has been officially announced by Deadline to be the head writer for the shows third season. Forming the crew that will carry the reinvigorated animated series towards further critical acclaim and viewership success, Chauncey joins X-Men 97 director Jake Castorena who returns to the helm. Also returning to their posts as consulting producers are Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald who served as executive producers for the original X-Men: The Animated Series.

Marvel Studios shocked the world when it released the animated television series, X-Men ’97. A continuation of the original X-Men: The Animated Series, the show defied expectations with its impeccable premise, well-crafted characters, and an intriguing storyline from start to end. Developed by Beau DeMayo, the series is gearing up for the release of its second season while the third is being written.

X-Men ’97 | Marvel Animation

Ousted by Marvel even before the series’ release, creator DeMayo is not attached to the project anymore. And fans are convinced his time with Marvel is done and dusted after receiving the update regarding season three of X-Men ’97.

Beau DeMayo Has No Chance of Coming Back After This Update from Marvel

Beau DeMayo | Instagram/@beau_demayo

Beau DeMayo has worked with Marvel for a number of projects, but his X-Men ’97 truly pushed the boundaries of storytelling. Hailed for being true to the original series,...

The hit show, which brings back the ’90s “X-Men” animated series we all know and love, is heading into its third season with some big changes. Matthew Chauncey has been chosen as the new head writer. He takes over from Beau DeMayo, who left the job earlier this year.

Chauncey is no stranger to Marvel stories. He’s written for other animated shows like “What If…?” and the live-action series “Ms. Marvel.” With his experience writing both cartoons and live movies, he seems like a great fit to guide where the new season goes.

Season one of the revival was a huge hit on Disney+. The early episodes got over 4 million viewers in just a few days. Even the season finale had around 3.5 million people tuning in. That makes it one of the most watched animation finales on the streaming service!

It seems like Disney+ and Marvel are confident Chauncey can keep the success going.

X-Men '97 season 3 is set to have a new head writer, Matthew Chauncey, promising exciting new directions for the Marvel animated series. Chauncey, known for work on Marvel's 'What If...?', will collaborate with producer Jake Castorena to bring a fresh perspective to X-Men '97. As production continues on X-Men '97 season 2 and 3, fans may be able to get more details at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

X-Men '97 season 3 is going forward with a new direction as the Marvel animated series makes a new addition to the creative team. 2024 marked the return of one of Marvel's most beloved animated properties of all time, as X-Men: The Animated Series became part of Marvel Studios' slate of TV shows with the X-Men '97 sequel series. While ending on a major cliffhanger, X-Men '97 season 2 is confirmed to be happening, which will be followed by season 3 after being renewed early on.

After X-Men '97...

Following the high-profile firing of Beau DeMayo, Marvel Animation has a new writer on board to pen the third series of X-Men ’97.

Marvel Studios has struggled in lots of ways over the past couple of years, but its animation division has gone from strength to strength. The release of its What If…? series marked a real high point for the studio, but its fortunes peaked even higher with this year’s X-Men ’97.

The series – which revives the long-dormant 1990s X-Men animated show has received almost universal praise from critics. Mere weeks before its release, however, Marvel announced that it had fired the creator of the series, Beau DeMayo. The timing of DeMayo’s departure made plenty of waves at the time, not least because of X-Men ’97’s success and also because he was a regular writer for the company, having worked on live action shows such as...

There’s a new face at the helm of X-Men ’97.

Matthew Chauncey — who has previously worked on the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel and What If…? — has been tapped to serve as head writer for the in-development third season of the streamer’s animated X-Men show, according to our sister site Deadline. (TVLine has reached out to Disney+ for confirmation.)

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Marvel Animation has tapped Matthew Chauncey to pen the third season of Disney+’s wildly popular X-Men ’97 series, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Chauncey, who was a writer on Marvel’s Disney+ animated series What If…?, will take over writing duties from Beau DeMayo. In March, a THR exclusive revealed that Marvel had suddenly fired DeMayo ahead of the Disney+ debut of X-Men’97, a revival and continuation of the classic ’90s X-Men animated series.

At the time of his exit, DeMay had already written the first two seasons of X-Men ’97, and was even discussing loose ideas for a third season.

Chauncey will work alongside Jake Castorena, who has been series director since season one. Additionally, Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald, executive producers of the original X-Men: The Animated Series, will remain on as consulting producers.

X-Men ’97 has been a huge critical hit for Marvel, with...

Exclusive: Matthew Chauncey (What If…?) has been tapped to write Season 3 of Disney+’s X-Men ’97, Marvel Animation‘s revival of the classic ’90s animated series, sources tell Deadline.

Chauncey succeeds Beau DeMayo who parted ways with Marvel earlier this year, ahead of X-Men ’97‘s March 20 premiere, after completing work on both Season 1 and Season 2.

Chauncey will work alongside X-Men 97 director Jake Castorena, who has been on the animated followup from the start. Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald, executive produced on the original X-Men: The Animated Series, will remain on as consulting producers. Season 2 of the revival, whose scripts have reportedly been revised, is in production. Season 3 is in development.

X-Men ’97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to...

X-Men '97 executive producer Brad Winderbaum teased that Marvel Studios has plans for X-Men '97 Season 2. Before this, Winderbaum conveyed that Season 3 is already in development, professing that just like X-Men: The Animated Series drafted "so heavily from Chris Claremont's work," the production team is continuing that.

In a recent interview with The Official Marvel Podcast (via ComicBookMovie.com), Winderbaum was asked if there was anything there that he thought people should keep an eye out for as they've "just finished watching it," to which he replied, "We've got big plans for the second season. I've already seen all the animatics and we're well on our way to creating something that hits the heights of the first season. I know the first season is an emotional ride; that ride continues in a very X-Men fashion in the second season."

Related Ex-X-Men '97 Showrunner Offers His Services to Batman: Caped Crusader...

Take a look at more footage from Marvel Animation’s “X-Men ‘97” now streaming on Disney+:

Cast includes Ray Chase as ‘Cyclops’, Jennifer Hale as ‘Jean Grey’, Alison Sealy-Smith as ‘Storm’, Cal Dodd as ‘Wolverine’, Jp Karliak as ‘Morph’…

…Lenore Zann as ‘Rogue’, George Buza as ‘Beast’, Aj LoCascio as ‘Gambit’, Holly Chou as ‘Jubilee’, Isaac Robinson-Smith as ‘Bishop’, Matthew Waterson as ‘Magneto’…

…Adrian Hough as ‘Nightcrawler’, Theo James as ‘Bastion’ and Chris Potter as ‘Nathan Summers’/‘Cable’.

Directors include Jake Castorena, Chase Conley and Emi Yonemura, with music by The Newton Brothers.

Click the images to enlarge…...

Ex-x-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo offered his services to Batman: Caped Crusader. Prior to this, DeMayo shared a series goal with X-Men '97 before his sudden firing.

Over on X, DeMayo professed in response to a post from Matt Reeves featuring a Batman: Caped Crusader poster, "I'm here." The poster in question has text above it reading, "The Bat is back," while Batman holds on to the "H" in a neon "Gotham" sign. Putting the spotlight on Batman: Caped Crusader itself, a teaser trailer revealed that Hamish Linklater is the new Dark Knight's voice.

1:56

Related Batman: Caped Crusader Season 1 Official Trailer

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Im here. https://t.co/A2sYlh1n0x Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) June 25, 2024

Tying into that, Linklater touched upon the late Kevin Conroy's influence on his role, affirming that he based...

X-Men '97 star Lenore Zann teased what fans can expect from Rogue in the highly-anticipated next season of the animated Disney+ revival. Zanna has been voicing the fan-favorite X-Men since the original run of X-Men: The Animated Series, which lasted for five seasons from 1992-1997.

In the middle of X-Men 97 Season 1, Rogue faced the agonizing heartbreak of Remy LeBeau/Gambits death, who sacrificed himself during the devastating attack on Genosha. For the rest of the season, she showed her grief by doing everything she could do to avenge Remys death. Speaking with Screen Rant, Zann confirmed that Rogues Season 2 storyline will continue her search for justice. Rogue was last seen at the end of the Season 1 finale, where she gets stuck in Ancient Egypt with Nightcrawler, Professor X, Beast, and Magneto. "I'm not going to completely answer it other than to say there are Easter eggs in there for fans to follow up,...

X-Men '97 inspired nostalgia for the original series with an updated version of the opening sequence. Its musical composers teased that the early versions experimented with a spectrum of musical elements.

The Newton Brothers' Andy Grush and Taylor Stewart said they experimented with a variety of musical styles and instruments to compose the theme for X-Men '97's opening credits. "We explored all of it," Grush told Variety. "We were like, 'Let's use real synthesizers playing it, let's use digital synthesizers. Let's have a guitar player just rip the theme as well.' And I think it sparked a nice conversation which ended in using mostly keyboard guitar with the real guitar peeking through at specific times, which makes it super effective." Both confirmed there were eight early versions of the theme that informed the final cut.

Related X-Men '97 Intro Finally Fixes Opening Credit Mistake

The X-Men '97 intro has been released online,...

The Disney+ animated series X-Men '97 has been a hit with fans of the superhero genre. Some have even wondered if actors Ross Marquand and Matthew Waterson, who voice Professor X and Magneto, respectively, would consider making the jump to live-action.

During an X-Men '97 panel at the 2024 Nashville Comicon via ComicBook, Marquand, and Waterson revealed which live-action roles they would like to take on. "I always say Wolverine, but I think Hugh Jackman does such a good job of that I wouldn't even touch that," Marquand said. "I wanted to play Moon Knight as well, and then Oscar Isaac knocked that out of the park. So I think I've said this before, but Omega Red who is like Russia's answer to Wolverine. He's such a badass, and he's such an untapped character. I really think that would be a lot of fun to play."

Related 'Offensive and Straight-Washing': X-Men '97...

There are a number of reasons why the X-Men have grown to be extremely popular through the years, both via comics and all of the live-action and TV iterations that we have seen thus far. The recent phenomenon which was X-Men ‘97 once again proved something that has always been true with respect to the franchise. The series is not merely a superhero-based narrative. It goes deeper and has a range of real-life lessons that make it much more relevant than any other Marvel creation, including The Avengers.

X-Men ’97 | Credit: Marvel Entertainment

X-Men ‘97 supervising director, Jake Casterona, recently delved into exactly what makes the X-Men a better team than The Avengers, which also boasts of some of Marvel’s most popular superheroes.

Jake Castorena reveals exactly what makes X-Men better than even The Avengers

A still from X-Men ’97. | Credits: Disney.

The Avengers have majorly been at...

A rumor for Daredevil: Born Again claims that an aspect of it has drawn comparisons to X-Men '97. But this comparison isn't the only bit of news.

Per The Cosmic Circus, insider Alex Perez was asked if he had any teases about Muse and what type of villain he'll be, as well as if he heard whether Born Again will feature "a one-take hallway sequence similar to the ones in the Og show." Perez replied that what he'd heard about Muse is that his character will "fan the flames of chaos in the show," adding, "He'll be very sinister and deranged and will actually be an antagonist to not only Daredevil but also Kingpin, which will be an interesting dynamic to see play out."

Related Daredevil: Born Again Star Shares Biggest Change Made After Creative Overhaul

Daredevil: Born Again Kingpin actor Vincent D'Onofrioshares the crucial change made to the upcoming 2025 Disney+ series.

Fans have barely recovered from X-Men '97 and the emotional burden of episodes like "Remember It." Rogue's voice actor Lenore Zann said she hopes the show continues the legacy of X-Men: The Animated Series, which helped some fans survive their darkest years.

Actor Lenore Zann said playing Rogue in X-Men: The Animated Series was an amazing gift; her rendition has become so iconic that fans immediately recognized her voice in X-Men '97. Zann told Collider the role means so much more with 30 years of life experience now behind her. She revealed the emotional weight of the loss Rogue felt at the end of "Remember It" drew from Zann's experience of losing her niece to cancer. "I decided that I would put all of my pain and grief into my voice so that others would hear it, and it would be authentic when Rogue loses Gambit," she said. "I think,...

There are a plethora of reasons why the recently released X-Men ‘97 proved to be the kind of stellar success that it quickly became. The animation style, the continuation of the narrative, the quality of it itself, and the way in which it remained true to its roots were bound to impress viewers worldwide.

However, another reason it proved such a stellar watch was down to the kind of tragedies that graced our screen. Fans who have already watched the 10-episode-strong Season 1 will know exactly what we are talking about, especially with respect to Episode 5, Remember It, which we shall surely remember for a long time to come.

X-Men ’97 | Credit: Marvel Entertainment

This is because it gave us a range of deaths of some of the best characters the franchise has on offer, with the likes of Gambit and Magneto biting the dust in Genosha after the mutant nation...

X-Men... 2000?

Although the recent Disney+ show served as a revival of an animated series that aired 25 years ago, the decision was made to keep the action rooted firmly in the original era. But with season 2 already confirmed and reports that Marvel Studios fully intends to keep the show going for as long as possible, could the mutant heroes make the jump into the noughties?

During an interview with Discussing Film, supervising director Jake Castorena was asked if they intend to hold on to the '90s aesthetic, and if he anticipates the show taking influence from later comic book runs for the second season.

"We touched on that, even in season one with E is for Extinction, which was definitely not of the ’90s run per se but in the zeitgeist of the era that came a little later," he replied. "Once so much time passes, that’s pretty much...

X-Men '97 supervising director Jake Castorena recently delved into taking more leaps with the show. Before this, he had talked about X-Men '97's TV-14 rating and the production team's goal with it.

Castorena touched upon this in an interview with DiscussingFilm.net when asked how elements like allowing the characters to swear influenced the way the production team approached telling the story, noting that it affects how they "set up technically for animation as a whole," knowing that they don't have the sort of broadcast standard X-Men: The Animated Series had. "For example, ['Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3'] was roughly 40 minutes; we worked with 20-something minutes of actual footage at first and then sent it out overseas," he continued. "They animated it, gave it back to us, and then we worked in tandem with the vendor. Once we get that back, that makes for room to elongate scenes, add or adjust banter, or create...

X-Men ’97 is certainly very close to the original 1992 series. The art style, graphics, animations, voices, and even story have followed the same path, starting off right where the first series ended in 1997. While hardcore fans would agree that the show feels exactly the same, some aspects of it were changed to better appeal to today’s audience.

A still from X-Men ’97 | Disney+

From characters swearing to a visible increase in the brutality of the violence, some aspects have evolved for the better. The changes seem easy to miss; however, the behind-the-scenes process of getting them into the show had to have been very difficult, especially because of how strict Disney is when it comes to such themes.

However, the director of the series recently revealed how they made their way around this.

X-Men ’97 No Longer Had Strict Rules

When X-Men: The Animated Series was originally being released,...

Marvel fans seem to be in for something truly great considering how, after X-Men: The Animated Series recently got its blockbuster sequel series, it seems now is the turn for the Spider-Man animated series to get its succeeding show. However, that is yet to be officially greenlit, with only cameos supporting fans’ hope of getting a subsequent series.

Spider-Man. (1994-1998) | Credit: Fox Kids Network.

Nonetheless, with the ex-showrunner of the latest fan-favorite sequel series to The Animated Series (i.e. Beau DeMayo) confirming just which Spidey it was who made a cameo in X-Men ’97, the stakes are high and fans’ heartiest expectations could be met. In the case of that happening, the sequel web-slinger series needs to follow ’97‘s golden rule for animated revivals.

Spoiler AlertWarning: X-Men '97 Spoilers Ahead! Read at your own risk! Spider-Man ’98 Happening More Probable After Beau DeMayo’s Statement

Just like how X-Men: The...

Serving as the revival of the classic X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ’97 has become one of the most successful Marvel projects amid a time when the studio has been substantially struggling to meet expectations.

X-Men ’97 | Credit: Marvel Entertainment

With season 2 of the show already in development, series director Jake Castorena recently shared insight into the show’s creative process. He also discussed how they have been able to avoid the pitfalls of mediocrity that can plague modern adaptations while preserving the essence of the beloved original series.

X-Men ’97 Director Reveals the Key to the Show’s Success

Created by Beau DeMayo, X-Men ’97 picks up where the original animated series concluded decades ago. Jake Castorena, who directed the first episode of the show, recently discussed their approach to ensure that it serves well to the original fans along with the new audience in an interview with Discussing Film.

Ex-X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo recently shared a clip of Superman's first flight from Man of Steel against Martin Scorsese's superhero movie criticisms. DeMayo had previously confirmed that this inspired Storm's first flight in "Lifedeath - Part 2."

DeMayo shared the clip in question in a post on X (via ScreenRant) and commented above it, "Sorry, [Scorsese], #thisiscinema. Everything, the aspirational shot design and music, the flight choreography, Clark [Kent] going from sauntering with heavy burden to soaring and smiling, sell the hope and power of an outsider discovering hes too big for his adopted home."

Related 'To Me, My Childhood': X-Men '97 Gets the Honest Trailers Treatment

X-Men '97 gets the Honest Trailers treatment two months after Honest Trailers ripped Madame Web to shreds.

Sorry, Scoersce, #thisiscinema. Everything, the aspirational shot design and music, the flight choreography, Clark going from sauntering with heavy burden to soaring and smiling,...

The following contains major spoilers from X-Men '97Season 1, Episode 10, "Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 3," now streaming on Disney+.

One brutal X-Men '97 fight scene was conceived with a similar DC movie moment in mind.

Former X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo confirmed via X that an extended sequence in the season finale where Rogue brutally punches Bastion through Asteroid M and outer space was "likely subconsciously influenced" by the Man of Steel scene where Superman attacks Zod for threatening his mom. Including the video clip in his post, DeMayo pointed out how, in this scene, "That's not Superman hammering Zod. It's Clark, a son furiously defending the woman who raised and protected him. The action is driven by emotion not plot."

I was likely subconsciously influenced by this when writing the #xmen97 finale beat of Rogue punching Bastion. Thats not Superman hammering Zod. Its Clark, a son furiously defending the...

X-Men '97 gets the Honest Trailers treatment. This comes two months after Honest Trailers ripped Madame Web to shreds.

The video begins with narrator Jon Bailey avowing that the audience grew up with X-Men: The Animated Series and that Disney has "let the series mature with its audience," because all the mutants want to do this time is "f--k, go crazy and die." Bailey later adds that almost 30 years ago, X-Men: The Animated Series ended on a cliffhanger and it's been a "rocky road" for the Children of the Atom ever since, during which posters for X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: The Last Stand, Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants pop up.

Related X-Men '97 Sets Amazing New Record for Marvel Studios at Rotten Tomatoes X-Men '97 sets an incredible record for Marvel Studios at Rotten Tomatoes.

Later on, Bailey asserts that now that Professor X has "found someone to match his freak,...

Despite being fired as X-Men '97 showrunner (the details are still sketchy) shortly before the series premiered on Disney+, Beau DeMayo has remained active on social media, sharing intriguing insights into the development of the animated revival show and revealing some of his key influences.

DeMayo has previously explained how the iconic "Superman takes flight" sequence from Zack Snyder's Man of Steel inspired a similar moment from episode 6 featuring Storm regaining her powers, and has now revealed that a different scene may have "subconsciously influenced" Rogue attacking the villainous Bastion in the recent season finale.

This was yet another standout moment for Rogue, who unleashed the full extent of her power while channelling the pain and rage she felt after losing Gambit in the Genosha massacre

I was likely subconsciously influenced by this when writing the #xmen97 finale beat of Rogue punching Bastion. That’s not Superman hammering Zod.