Over three decades after X-Men: The Animated Series brought Marvel’s mutants into the limelight and defined a generation’s Saturday mornings, they’re making a much-awaited comeback on Disney Plus. This March 20, 2024, the original team — Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and others — returns in X-Men ’97, a direct sequel that aims to rekindle the legacy of these iconic characters for both original fans and a new audience. Marvel Studios has unveiled the first trailer for the series, along with an official poster teasing its premiere on the Disney streaming service.
Beau DeMayo, best known for his work on The Witcher and Moon Knight, takes the helm as head writer and executive producer for X-Men ’97. The series aims to pick up where the original ’90s animated classic left off, with the X-Men parting ways with Charles Xavier as he embarks on a journey to the Shi’Ar homeworld. To ensure authenticity and respect for the source material, original series writers Eric and Julia Lewald are on board as consultants, with Larry Houston, who directed the initial series, also contributing.
The revival boasts an impressive cast, blending familiar voices with new ones. Veterans Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith, and Alyson Court are reprising their roles, reuniting fans with the iconic characters they’ve grown to love. Joining them are a host of fresh talent including Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett, and AJ LoCascio.
Theo James joins Marvel’s X-Men ’97 cast in a mystery role
Entertainment Weekly reports that Theo James, known for his roles in The White Lotus and Divergent, is set to voice a “fan-favorite” character in X-Men ’97, as teased by Beau DeMayo. Having previously collaborated with DeMayo on Netflix’s The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, James’ involvement has sparked speculation about his role in the series, but Marvel is staying mum.
Originally anticipated for a fall 2022 debut, X-Men ’97 faced delays, pushing its premiere to an unconfirmed date. This setback aligns with broader interruptions to Marvel’s schedule on Disney Plus, but anticipation remains high. The first season of the revival consists of ten new episodes.
Stay tuned for the latest news on X-Men ’97 and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
