An animated X-Men: The Animated Series revival was announced back in November 2021. Re-titled X-Men '97, the new series hitting Disney+ promises to continue the story of the original cartoon.
This is Disney's first official X-Men or mutant-related project since the company acquired 20th Century Fox. While the live-action X-Men have been teased in MCU projects Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel, so far, X-Men '97 is the only official X-Men project in development.
X-Men: The Animated Series originally ran from 1992-1997 on the Fox Kids Network. Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith, and Alyson Court are all set to reprise their roles.
Marvel Studios Animation division promised to deliver more X-Men '97 updates at San Diego Comic-Con, and it just delivered.
X-Men '97 Main Cast Revealed
During its San Diego Comic-Con panel, Marvel Studios Animation announced that X-Men '97 season one will release in Fall 2023 and a second season has already been greenlit.
The studio also officially revealed the line-up for Disney+'s X-Men '97 sequel. This includes Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, Jubilee, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, and Beast:
Even more X-Men were shown off with Nightcrawler, Cable, Bishop, Morph, Forge, and Sunspot joining the fray:
The roster of X-Men '97's villains was also shown, including Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Callisto, Val Cooper, and Mister Sinister:
Finally, a close-up of Magneto, the leader of the X-Men in the upcoming series, was also unveiled:
X-Men '97 Continuing the Legacy
X-Men '97 is accomplishing a lot with just one series. It will introduce the X-Men through Disney+ to modern-day Marvel fans, giving X-Men: The Animated Series fans a long-awaited successor and helping grow Marvel Studios' animation division.
Based on the name alone, this show embraces nostalgia and doesn't seem to have any plans for modernizing the animation. Unlike I Am Groot, What If...?, or Marvel Zombies this Disney+ show will seemingly be set outside of the MCU. However, anything is possible with the trending tease of its catchy theme song.
The multiverse seems to be a common theme in the MCU animated series. What If...? and Zombies are multiverse adventures, while Spider-Man: Freshman Year appears to be taking place outside of the 616 MCU as well.
With specific plans for the MCU to begin its own live-action X-Men storytelling, the revamped animated series may play a bigger role in the Multiverse Saga than expected.
