X-Men '97

X-Men '97 is an upcoming American animated television series created by Beau DeMayo for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team X-Men. It serves as a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–97), and the plot will continue where the original series left off. X-Men '97 is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, with DeMayo serving as head writer.

For the original 1992–1997 animated series, see X-Men: The Animated Series.

X-Men '97
Genre
Created byBeau DeMayo
Based on
Voices of
Theme music composer
ComposerThe Newton Brothers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Production companyMarvel Studios Animation
Release
Original networkDisney+
Related
X-Men: The Animated Series

Several cast members return from the original series, including Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, and Alyson Court. A revival of the 1990s animated series was first discussed in 2019, with X-Men '97 formally announced in November 2021 along with the involvement of Marvel Studios Animation and DeMayo. It is the first X-Men project from Marvel Studios since they regained the film and television rights to the characters from 20th Century Fox.

X-Men '97 is scheduled to premiere in early 2024 and will consist of ten episodes. A second season is in development.

Cast and characters
Main article: List of X-Men: The Animated Series characters

Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Adrian Hough, and Alyson Court all return from the original series, voicing new roles.[4][5] Additionally, Anniwaa Buachie, JP Karliak, and Jeff Bennett have been cast in undisclosed roles.[4] The X-Men members Cable, Bishop, Morph, Nightcrawler,[6] and Forge will appear,[7] as will the Hellfire Club members Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw, alongside Bolivar Trask.[6] Val Cooper also appears, with DeMayo saying she has "an agenda" with the team that would "slowly make itself known".[8] Lawrence Bayne, who was a voice actor in the original series, is set to appear in the second season.[9]

Production

Development

Larry Houston, the producer and director of the 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series, stated in 2019 that he had discussed a revival of the series with Disney.[10] As Marvel Studios was developing the first season of What If...? (2021), executives began discussing what their next animated project could be, with a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series being the first of these ideas, to revisit those characters and its time period.[11]: 15:50–16:02  Brad Winderbaum, the head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios, said several filmmakers who had met with Marvel Studios in the past had cited the series as a "touchstone".[4] In late 2020, Beau DeMayo, who served as a writer for Marvel Studios' live-action series Moon Knight, was approached to present a pitch for a revival of the 1990s series.[12] By June 2021, Marvel Studios Animation was developing a slate of at least three series in addition to What If...? that,[13][14][15] as of August 2021, were in various stages of development and likely would not debut until 2023.[16]

X-Men '97, a revival and continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, was announced in November 2021.[17][18] Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, VP of Animation at Marvel Studios, said many of the people involved with the revival were fans of the 1990s series and "knew exactly" what the continuation should be.[4] DeMayo was announced as head writer and executive producer,[5][4] with Jake Castorena as supervising director and Charley Feldman as supervising producer.[4] Houston and the original series' showrunners, Eric and Julia Lewald, serve as consultants on the revival,[19][4] assisting with "any red flags" that may arise, while also suggesting ideas of things they would like to see.[20] Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige, Vasquez-Eberhardt, and Winderbaum also serve as executive producers of the series.[21]

It is the first X-Men project from Marvel Studios since they regained the rights to the characters from 20th Century Fox,[22] which DeMayo said added pressure to the series due to the characters' and original animated series' large fanbase.[21] Eric and Julia Lewald believed Disney and Marvel Studios fast-tracking the revival was attributed to the success of the original series streaming on Disney+ and the artbook X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series (2020).[23]: 55:47–56:48  X-Men '97 is believed to not be set within Marvel Studios' shared universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), since it continues the storylines of the original series,[22][24] though DeMayo noted the series would clarify its relationship to the MCU.[25] During Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, X-Men '97 and the other projects discussed were introduced as being part of the "Marvel Animated Multiverse".[26] Work on a second season had already begun by July 2022,[6][7] with writing on the second season finale having started by July 2023.[27]

Writing

Eric Lewald described the series as "an extension" of the original series that the Marvel Studios team made "their own".[20] DeMayo and the writers tried to honor the "earnestness" and "emotional sincerity" that existed in the original series that DeMayo believed was about "the relationship of this found family, and how they cared about each other and had disagreements". X-Men '97 also reflects modern-day society, similarly to how the original reflected society of the 1990s,[28] with the series exploring whether Xavier's dream of mutant/human co-existence is relevant in the modern era.[29] DeMayo pitched the series as honoring the original while bringing it into the modern world, with Winderbaum noting that it would explore an emotional shift at the beginning of the new millennium. DeMayo discussed the series as a soap opera, which Winderbaum said was "really compelling" to executives.[11]: 19:09–19:48  Eric and Julia Lewald said there was a "ten-premise story arc" written for the season, which Julia called their bible.[23]: 1:06:17–1:06:32 

X-Men '97 follows a similar X-Men team from the 1990s series with the "DNA of the original show". It sees the team reunite following an "impactful event",[4] and explores how they are changed by it,[11]: 19:09–19:48  while also "[building] off" Professor X's disappearance during the original series' finale and exploring other mysteries unexplained in the original series.[20][29] Rogue, Beast, Gambit, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, and Cyclops return as the main team, now led by their former enemy Magneto.[8] Bishop and Morph also join the team,[30] while Nathaniel Essex / Mister Sinister serves as the main antagonist for the first season,[2] alongside the Sentinels.[30] The series sees the X-Men questioning their future after an increase of sympathy towards mutants after the attempt on Xavier's life, with Cyclops and Storm wanting to continue on Xavier's dream while others such as Jean Grey wanting to create new lives for themselves, while Magneto is moved by the growing mutant sympathy and wants to follow in Xavier's footsteps as the team's leader.[31]

Casting and voice recording

With the series announcement, several original series voice actors were revealed to be returning: Cal Dodd (who originally voiced James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine), Lenore Zann (who originally voiced Anna-Marie Raven / Rogue), George Buza (who originally voiced Henry "Hank" McCoy / Beast), Catherine Disher (who originally voiced Jean Grey), Chris Potter (who originally voiced Remy LeBeau / Gambit), Alison Sealy-Smith (who originally voiced Ororo Munroe / Storm), Adrian Hough (who originally voiced Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler), Christopher Britton (who originally voiced Nathaniel Essex / Mister Sinister), and Alyson Court (who originally voiced Jubilation Lee / Jubilee).[4][5] Dodd, Zann, Buza, Sealy-Smith, and Britton all reprise their roles,[3][1] while the others voice new roles.[4][5]

Ray Chase takes on the role of Scott Summers / Cyclops, following the death of original voice actor Norm Spencer;[32] Jennifer Hale replaces Disher as the voice of Jean Grey; Holly Chou replaces Court as Jubilation Lee / Jubilee, with Court previously stating that she would not return to the role and hoped an Asian-American actress would voice the character instead; A. J. LoCascio replaces Potter as Remy LeBeau / Gambit;[1][5] Matthew Waterson voices Magneto;[3] and Gui Agustini voices Roberto da Costa / Sunspot.[1] Anniwaa Buachie, JP Karliak, and Jeff Bennett are cast in undisclosed roles.[4] Voice recordings for the series had begun by November 2021.[33]

Dodd revealed in February 2023 that he had started recording for the second season,[34] with Zann stating in August 2023 that she had begun recording material for the second season.[1] Lawrence Bayne, who was a voice actor in the original series, is set to have a role in the second season.[9]

Animation

The animation for the series is updated from the original series to use more sophisticated modern technology,[6][11]: 23:32–23:41  featuring "slightly modernized" designs.[20] Work on the animatics had begun by November 2021,[33] with full animation having begun by April 2023.[35] To show emotion with Cyclops, whose eyes and eyebrows are covered by his visor, animators adjusted how the glints and reflections appeared on his visor. Castorena added that other mutants' powers were also used in "unique ways" to convey their emotions.[27] The first season was in post-production by July 2023.[27]

Music

Original series composer Ron Wasserman was set to meet with Marvel and the crew about his involvement in the revival by early 2022,[23]: 1:03:07–1:03:27  but the Newton Brothers were announced to be the series' composers in July.[7] The main theme is similar to that of the original series, but it is credited to Haim Saban and Shuki Levy—the music executives on X-Men: The Animated Series—rather than Wasserman.[36] DeMayo described it as "that classic '90s sound with a little bit of a modern edge".[8] It was first heard in the MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) and then the series Ms. Marvel (2022) when those projects referenced mutants.[36] Eric Lewald believed Marvel Studios paid a large amount for the rights to use the Animated Series theme, which had its rights "all over the place".[37]

Marketing

The series was discussed during Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, where animatics were shown.[6] Footage from the series was shown a year later at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con along with the reveal of Hasbro's Marvel Legends figures for the series.[30]

Release

X-Men '97 will premiere on Disney+ in early 2024,[38] and will consist of ten episodes.[20] It was originally scheduled to be released in late 2023.[6]

References
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