Summary
X-Men ‘97 isset to debut on Disney Plus as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year. Now, recently revealed high-quality images finally let fans get a good look at the designs of the main cast, including Wolverine and Magneto.
X-Men: The Animated Seriesis one of the most fondly remembered animated series of the ’90s. Despite this, the show would eventually end in 1997 due in no small part to several issues, including bankruptcy woes at Marvel. TheX-Menanimated series would go unseen again until 2019 when it would be added to the Disney Plus streaming service at launch. This prompted discussion about a revival that would eventually materialize with an official announcement in late 2021.
While eager fans have been gettingX-Men ‘97details from the series’ producerssince early 2022, with the new show being named in honor of the first series’ cancelation, visuals concerning the revival series have been much less forthcoming, with only minor glimpses and merch artwork to show until now. Taking to social media platform X, the accountCanWeGetSomeToastshared two high-quality images featuring 12 prominent characters showcasing their suited-up designs forX-Men ‘97in full color with a black background for proper contrast. Featuring the likes of Storm, Cyclops, Jubilee, Beast, Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, and more, the images showcase updated designs with a much cleaner look than was attainable when the original show aired in the ’90s.
WhileX-Men ‘97toys have shown Stormand other iconic characters from the show, this is the first time fans can properly appreciate all the detail and effort that has gone into creating the new and updated style guides for the animation. This is much to the delight of fans online, many of whom expressed their approval and shout out their favorite returning mutant from the team. A few fans couldn’t recognize some less well-known figures, such as Morph, who didn’t get the treatment and attention others did in Fox’s live-action X-Men franchise. This lapse in popularity makes the upcoming revival even more of a must-see for many.
There’s certainly a large contingent of older fans waiting eagerly for the return of a nostalgic favorite, but whether or notX-Men ‘97will be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universeand to what extent remains to be seen. The company has big plans for mutants and the X-Men going forward, with a soft reboot supposedly in the works to possibly facilitate their inclusion into the mainline continuity. While it’s unlikely that an animated series with a connection to a ’90s-era show will be directly linked to the big-budget live-action projects that carve out the central story of the MCU,X-Men ‘97will help lay the foundation for the idea of mutants within the more casual fanbase. So far, the only real mutant representation in the MCU comes from a minor realization inMs. Marveland a fleeting scene inThe Marvels,which is nowhere near enough for such an important concept to take root.
Fans can rest easy now that the bulk of the wait is behind them, and look forward to a melding of the past and the present in the revitalized series. WithX-Men ‘97episode titles hinting at an important storyline, the wait will be justified.
X-Men ‘97is expected to premiere on Disney Plus in 2024.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes, including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
