The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in the age of expanding its small screen efforts, and one approach is launching in the animated realm.
What If...? served as the franchise's first animated venture, introducing stories within the Multiverse. The show received mixed reviews, but it still effectively set up the premise of alternate realities running tangent to the prime MCU canon.
In the past months, mounting evidence proved that Marvel Studios is not done with animated projects. Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, an executive at Marvel Studios, previously teased that What If...? will be "the first of many amazing animation series."
Marvel Studios president for physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation production Victoria Alonso further teased the expansion of the MCU's animated branch, confirming that "there will be more to come."
Now, a new rumor emerged about an exciting new addition to the MCU's animated slate.
X-Men's MCU Animated Debut
Geeks WorldWide shared that an X-Men animated series is in development at Marvel Studios for Disney+, and it is set to begin production in 2023.
Entertainment scooper KC Walsh previously hinted that the mutant-led series was in development, with him teasing that the project is "f***ing insane." Back then, Walsh pointed out that he wasn't fully certain of this rumor, as he would be "reaching out to more people" to seek further confirmation and clarification on the project.
Will This X-Men Series Be Canon to the MCU?
It is unknown if this rumor is true, but many would agree that this is an exciting prospect, especially after the success of the '90s X-Men animated series.
The original X-Men series ran from 1992-1997, and it received praise from fans and critics, ultimately helping Marvel launch numerous comic book shows.
If Marvel Studios decides to move forward with this series, it will be interesting to find out which X-Men characters will be part of the lineup. The original series included the likes of Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Beast, and Jean Grey, so it's possible that these characters could also be introduced in the MCU project.
It is unknown if this animated series will be part of the MCU canon. However, Marvel Studios can still surprise fans by confirming that this show is canon once the series wraps its first season. By doing this, it would allow fans to be more familiar with these characters before eventually incorporating them into live-action.
It remains to be seen if this X-Men series will incorporate What If...?'s animation style, but there's a chance that the creators behind the show could shift into a new one. A previous rumor pointed out that Marvel could transition into the realm of anime, potentially hinting that this X-Men series is a prime candidate for that shift.
A 2023 production start could mean that the series would be part of the MCU's Phase 5, meaning mutants would be out in the open during that time.
Whatever the case, there's a chance that plans for this animated series will be officially unveiled during Disney+ Day on November 12, 2021.
