| This article is written from the Real World perspective |  |
| X-Men '97 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Beginning date | March 20, 2024 |
| Number of Episodes | 10 Season One |
| Writers | Beau DeMayo |
| Producers | Beau DeMayo Charley Feldman |
| Original Channel | Disney+ |
| Previous Series | It's Jeff & the Avengers |
| Next Series | Eyes of Wakanda |
X-Men '97 is a series that serves as a continuation of the 1992 series X-Men. The series premiered on Disney+ in March 20, 2024. Unlike its predecessor, the sequel series was aimed to mature audiences.
The name is a reference to the year the earlier series ended as well as the comic book continuation X-Men '92.
Background[]
Eric and Julia Lewald released the books Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series in 2017 in X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series in 2020 detailing the production of X-Men. Thanks to the dedicated fan following, they began talking with Marvel Entertainment about reviving the series in the style of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Roseanne, and Animaniacs.
While promoting Previously on X-Men: The Making of an Animated Series, Eric Lewald gave his thoughts on a theoretical sixth season. "I had honestly never thought about it for all these years, but now that you mention it, an idea for a season just came to me: the five-season series ends with a dying Charles Xavier being whisked away to space by Lilandra, where she can maintain his fragile body, but where it seems he will be gone forever from his beloved X-Men. It's like a death. Season Six could open, months later, with the X-Men in disarray, a few gone, the ones remaining at each other's throats. They miss their leader. Then somehow they are called to, and transported to, an existential crisis on Lilandra's distant world. The team grudgingly reunites 'for Charles,' heads off to space, solves the crisis, and a somehow-healed Charles Xavier is either able to return to Earth with them or, if he can't, his heroic final sacrifice heals the team's wounds and they return to Earth as the proper X-Men again."[1]
In June 2019, original series director Larry Houston talked to The Hollywood Reporter about reviving the series saying, "The one thing we'd like to do more than anything else is to continue where we left off."[2]
The series was first announced November 12th, 2021 along with the second season of What If...?, I Am Groot, Marvel Zombies, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.[3]
The series is produced by Marvel Studios.
Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation Brad Winderbaum said of the series, "This is the first X-Men title produced by Marvel Studios. What an amazing first step to reintroduce audiences to the X-Men with a look at one of the most pinnacle eras of the X-Men comics, which was the '90s. That iconic style that has its roots in Chris Claremont, and is celebrated in Jim Lee, and then again in The Animated Series."
He added, "Over the years, as we've met with so many filmmakers who have come in to pitch on various projects, the touchstone that we hear over and over again is X-Men: The Animated Series."
Vice President of Animation Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt said, "As an animated show, the original X-Men was the forerunner to some amazing action series. Everyone that is making X-Men '97, top-down, is a fan. On this project, instinctually, we knew exactly what this is. To bring this series forward and pick up that baton, and not just keep running at the same pace, but to really elevate. That's the responsibility."
Original series producers and showrunners Eric and Julia Lewald and original series director Larry Houston are consulting on the series.[4]
On the day of the announcement the Lewalds stated, "Thanks to the dedicated people at Marvel, many of whom grew up on X-Men: The Animated Series, our X-Men family is preparing to return, with more stories for the fans who loved our show. We are honored to be included, to assist the creative team in any way we can. Now, twenty-five years later, to our X-Men family, with gratitude and love, we say 'welcome back'."[5]
In a later interview, Eric Lewald said that he believed that the first season would be ten episodes long and was expected to premier in mid-2023. Lewald said "I believe they're looking at 10 episodes for the first season that's going to come out mid-next year."[6] However, the release dated ended up being pushed back to early 2024.
Marvel Studios showed a sneak peek of X-Men '97 at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con where they revealed that the series had already been renewed for a second season.[7]
Story[]
Marvel Animation’s “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 face a dangerous and unexpected new future.[8]
Cast[]
Actor Role(s) Ray Chase Cyclops/Scott Summers Jennifer Hale Jean Grey
Goblin Queen/Madelyne PryorLenore Zann Rogue/Anna-Marie Raven George Buza Beast/Hank McCoy Holly Chou Jubilee Christopher Britton Mister Sinister/Nathaniel Essex Alison Sealy-Smith Storm/Ororo Munroe
AdversaryCathal J. Dodd Wolverine/Logan A. J. LoCascio Gambit/Remy LeBeau Matthew Waterson Magneto/Erik Lehnsherr Gui Agustini Sunspot/Roberto de Costa Lawrence Bayne X-Cutioner/Carl Denti Catherine Disher Valerie Cooper Chris Potter Cable/Nathan Summers Adrian Hough Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner Anniwaa Buachie TBA J. P. Karliak Morph/Kevin Sydney Jeff Bennett TBA Isaac Robinson-Smith Bishop Ross Marquand Professor X/Charles Xavier Gil Birmingham Forge Eric Bauza Sentinel
Master MoldRon Rubin Robert Kelly Alyson Court Abcissa Anniwaa Buachie Digital Alarm Jeff Bennett Judge
Burly Goon
Kree CommanderTheo James TBA
While many of the original cast returned, not all returned to their original roles.
Crew[]
Job People Executive Producer Beau DeMayo Writers Beau DeMayo Supervising Director Jake Castorena Supervising Producer Charley Feldman Consultants Eric Lewald
Julia Lewald
Larry Houston
Episodes[]
| Episode # | Title | Writer(s) | Original Airdate | Production Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "To Me, My X-Men" | TBA | March 20, 2024 | 101 |
| 2 | "Mutant Liberation Begins" | TBA | March 20, 2024 | 102 |
| 3 | "Fire Made Flesh" | TBA | March 27, 2024 | 103 |
| 4 | "Motendo / Lifedeath, Part One" | TBA | April 3, 2024 | 104 |
| 5 | "Remember It" | TBA | April 10, 2024 | 105 |
| 6 | "Lifedeath, Part Two" | TBA | April 17, 2024 | 106 |
| 7 | "Bright Eyes" | TBA | April 24, 2024 | 107 |
| 8 | "Tolerance is Extinction, Part One" | TBA | May 1, 2024 | 108 |
| 9 | "Tolerance is Extinction, Part Two" | TBA | May 8, 2024 | 109 |
| 10 | "Tolerance is Extinction, Part Three" | TBA | May 15, 2024 | 110 |
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ X-Men: The Animated Series Showrunner Eric Lewald Gives His Pitch for a Sixth Season at SyFy
- ↑ X-REUNION at The Hollywood Reporter
- ↑ Disney+ Day 2021: ‘X-MEN ‘97’ Animated Series Announced at Marvel
- ↑ EXCLUSIVE: Cast Announcement for 'X-MEN '97' Coming to Disney+ at Marvel
- ↑ Our Reaction to the Disney+ X-Men News! at XMenTAS
- ↑ X-MEN '97 Story Details, Episode Count, And Possible Release Window Revealed By Producers at ComicBookMovie
- ↑ ‘X-Men ’97’ Gets First Nostalgic Look, Fall 2023 Release and Season 2 at MSN
- ↑ Marvel Animation's 'X-Men '97' Releases 'A New Age' Featurette at Marvel