Season 2 of X-Men '97: characters, narrative, and all we know

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Marvel’s X-Men ’97 was a huge hit, and anticipation for the second season is growing. Following the plot of X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ’97 is a comic-faithful animated rendition of the eponymous team and has played a significant role in establishing the X-Men’s fame. Since then, they have appeared in several successful live-action films. The animated series has had plenty of opportunity to experiment with fresh and completely different themes because neither X-Men ’97 nor the Fox live-action films are presently included in the MCU canon. On March 20, 2024, X-Men 97 season 1 became live on streaming services. The show continued with X-Men addressing Charles Xavier’s absence and its impact on the relationship between mutants and humans. Much of the original series’ voice cast returned, along with many of the same characters, albeit not all of the same people contributed. All of the information we currently know about X-Men ’97 season 2 is compiled here.

By the end of the first season, X-Men ’97 had successfully developed a number of characters and given them compelling storylines. Because of the size of the ensemble, several of them—including Bishop, a beloved mutant—had small parts in the overall plot of the series. Isaac-Robinson Smith, who plays Bishop’s voice, talked candidly about his desire to go further into the character in season 2, which would be a wise decision for the show, in an interview with Screen Rant. He said:

Robinson-Smith, Isaac: Since he is a guy out of time and doesn’t actually have a home—no matter where it is—I would personally want to know more background information about him. Since he received it in the first series, the original in 1992, I would want to see a deeper examination of his background and feelings.

Even if he lives in several pasts, I would still like to see his past. I’m really reading the comics to have a feel of his narrative on a larger scale for myself. As the character in season 2, I want to have the opportunity to go deeper into his sentiments and to witness more of him and his development.

ScreenRant: The X-Men Blue Team and Gold Team existed in the 1990s. Would you prefer to see Bishop on the X-Men Gold Team if X-Men ’97 were to split into two separate shows?

Robinson-Smith, Isaac: Yes! I need to research the teams more because I’m researching its history on my own, but I believe that additional options for the character would be fantastic overall.

Before the first season of X-Men ’97 went live, season two was authorized. Disney’s early permission is probably due in part to the fact that the series doesn’t alter the larger MCU story, so it doesn’t have to be as concerned about the story negatively impacting the entire film franchise. However, X-Men ’97 is now receiving excellent reviews. Before being dismissed in March 2024, a few days before X-Men ’97 season 1 went live on streaming services, Beau DeMayo, the lead writer and creator of seasons 1 and 2, finished work on season 2. The reasons for DeMayo’s resignation are still unknown, but Brad Winderbaum, head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios, is still optimistic about the pool of talent that can continue where DeMayo left off.

When X-Men ’97 season 2 production started in September 2023, the second season had already been in development for a number of months by the time of the season 1 conclusion in May 2024. Though LeMayo had apparently completed his own writing duties for the second season before this occurred, the production process probably also needed to account for the fact that Marvel severed ties with season 1 showrunner Beau LeMayo just before the premiere of the first episode. This may necessitate a longer production window. Only three voice performers have acknowledged to far that they started auditioning for X-Men ’97 season 2 as early as February 2023. Even still, given the conclusion of the first season, which revealed that most of the X-Men were still alive but had been altered by time, it is reasonable to believe that the bulk, if not all, of the voice actors from X-Men ’97 season 1 will be returning to their roles.

Curiously, this also revealed a young Nathan Summers, so it’s uncertain if Cable voice actor Chris Potter will return at this point. However, he may return as Cable’s adult self, with a different actor playing the kid Nathan. According to the show’s conclusion, which seemed to indicate that Apocalypse would be trying to bring the now-dead X-Men hero back to life as one of his Horsemen of the Apocalypse, it even looks like A.J. LoCascio might be playing Gambit again. DeMayo claimed that authenticity was a factor in the decision to replace some veterans, as shown in the instance of Jubilee, who is currently played by Asian-American actress Holly Chou. Chris Potter took over as Nathan Summers/Cable’s voice in X-Men: The Animated Series after Lawrence Bayne, who stated he would return in season 2, was fired for “intonations” that better reflected the father-son bond between Cable and Cyclops.

As a result of the chaos at the end of the first season, most of the cast is shown flung throughout time in X-Men ’97 season 1. For example, Scott and Jean are shown meeting a child version of their son in 3960 AD, while Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler are sent to 3000 BC, where they find what looks to be a young Apocalypse. Bishop appears to assist Forge in rescuing his missing friends from their temporal traps, leaving him to search for the missing X-Men. Overall, the plot points to the potential return of a villain through the tease of Apocalypse, who also makes an appearance in the post-credits scene in the contemporary timeline. It also implies that X-Men ’97 season 2 may be divided into four distinct story segments because it’s currently very unclear where Wolverine, Storm, and Morph are. This is particularly important because X-Men ’97 season 1 also depicted Wolverine in excruciating pain when Magneto separated the adamantium covering his bones from his skeleton, indicating that the three of them could be working on a plot to aid Logan’s recovery.

Because X-Men ’97 season 3 is already in development, fans of the show will be happy to hear that season 2 is by no means the end of the voyage. This was verified by Marvel Head of Streaming Brad Winderbaum, who specifically mentioned that the third season was in development in an April 2024 interview with Phase Zero. Given the abundance of narratives from which the X-Men series may be adapted and the high level of critical acclaim that X-Men ’97 season 1 has garnered, it seems sense to make sure the series runs for as long as it is necessary to explain the overall plot of the animated chapter. As the series develops and grows, it is hoped that X-Men ’97 seasons two and three will maintain the high bar set by the first season and maybe even raise the bar in certain ways.