The revival of X-Men: The Animated Series as X-Men ’97 took Marvel fans by storm in 2024, blending nostalgic 90s vibes with modern storytelling, sharp animation, and emotional depth. With Season 1 earning a near-perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and racking up millions of views on Disney+, it’s no surprise that anticipation for Season 2 is at a fever pitch. Picking up from the explosive finale that scattered the X-Men across time and teased the return of Apocalypse, Season 2 promises to dive deeper into mutantkind’s struggles. But with production drama, scrapped plans, and fresh teases, what do we actually know? Let’s break down the latest updates, speculations, and rumors as of October 2025.
Release Date: Expect a 2026 Premiere
Fans hoping for a quick turnaround after Season 1’s March 2024 debut will have to wait a bit longer. Marvel Studios head of streaming, television, and animation Brad Winderbaum confirmed in early 2025 that X-Men ’97 Season 2 is slated for 2026. This delay stems from script revisions following the firing of original showrunner Beau DeMayo in March 2024, just before Season 1 aired. DeMayo had completed scripts for the season, but Marvel opted for tweaks to align with their vision.
Voice recording wrapped earlier this year, with stars like Lenore Zann (Rogue) confirming sessions were done by mid-2025. Animation by Studio Mir and Tiger Animation is underway, but the full release won’t hit Disney+ until sometime in 2026—potentially mid-year, based on production timelines for similar Marvel animated series like What If…?. Winderbaum emphasized Marvel’s goal for “annual cadence” releases moving forward, hinting at shorter gaps between future seasons.
On X (formerly Twitter), fans are buzzing about the wait, with posts lamenting the two-year gap but hyping the potential payoff. One user summed it up: “X-Men 97 Season 2 in 2026? Worth the wait if it’s as good as S1.”
Plot Speculations: Apocalypse Rises, Time Travel Twists, and Dark Turns
Season 1’s finale left the X-Men flung across timelines: Cyclops and Jean Grey in a dystopian future with a young Cable; Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler in ancient Egypt facing a nascent Apocalypse; and Gambit’s apparent death in Genosha’s rubble. The post-credits scene—Apocalypse clutching Gambit’s charged Queen of Hearts card—screams resurrection as the Horseman of Death.
Expect Season 2 to expand on these threads, drawing from iconic comics like The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (future family drama with Scott, Jean, and Nathan Summers) and Larry Hama’s Wolverine run (post-adamantium loss feral arc). Producer Jake Castorena teased the “rich IP” of X-Men lore, hinting at Grant Morrison’s New X-Men influence, including Genosha’s genocide fallout.
Key Plot Rumors and Fan Theories
- Apocalypse’s Master Plan: The ancient villain will likely orchestrate Horsemen resurrections. Gambit as Death is locked in, but theories point to Wolverine (feral after Magneto’s adamantium rip) as War, Rogue as Pestilence (leveraging her absorption powers), and even Storm as Famine. One Reddit theory suggests a multi-era showdown: X-Men vs. young En Sabah Nur in Egypt, tying into Cable’s Clan Askani resistance in 3960 AD.
- New X-Teams Emerge: Winderbaum revealed two additional X-teams—likely X-Force (militant Cable-led squad) and X-Factor (government-affiliated investigators, teased in Season 1). Forge and Bishop could assemble a “New X-Men” roster from his Season 1 missing-persons board, including Kitty Pryde, Magik, and Emma Frost.
- Scrapped Ideas from DeMayo: The ex-showrunner shared his original vision on X: E-Day banning mutant teams, Xavier founding X-Corp on Genosha’s ruins, and a militarized X-Men in Morrison’s sleek uniforms leading to Onslaught’s reveal in a 9-episode finale. Age of Apocalypse was eyed for the endgame, but Marvel ditched it post-firing. A Magneto courtroom scene survives, per leaks.
- Darker Tone and Deaths: Ross Marquand (Professor X/Apocalypse) calls it “very, very dark,” amazed Disney approved it—”a lot of people die.” Fan speculation on X runs wild: Will Gambit stay dead? Could Magneto or Xavier fall? Expect multiversal chaos, with Cable potentially forming X-Force to fill the void.
More teases could drop at New York Comic Con’s Marvel Animation & Television panel on October 13, 2025, alongside Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2.
Cast and Characters: Returning Voices and New Faces
The core cast returns, with voice work completed for continuity.
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Cyclops | Ray Chase |
| Jean Grey | Jennifer Hale |
| Professor X | Ross Marquand |
| Magneto | Richard Newman (rumored) |
| Rogue | Lenore Zann |
| Wolverine | Cal Dodd |
| Storm | Alison Sealy-Smith |
| Beast | George Buza |
| Nightcrawler | Adrian Hynkel |
| Gambit | A.J. LoCascio |
| Bishop | Isaac-Robinson Smith |
| Forge | Greg Germann |
New/Expanded Additions:
- Havok (Scott’s brother): First-look at D23 2024; energy blasts vs. Cyclops tension.
- Polaris (Magneto’s daughter): Neve Campbell cast; family redemption arc.
- Apocalypse: Marquand’s dual performance ramps up.
- Lady Deathstrike, Danger, Sabretooth: Villain cameos confirmed.
- Potential: Kitty Pryde, Magik, Emma Frost for X-Factor/X-Force.
The New X-Men suits (Grant Morrison designs) are in, signaling a militarized aesthetic—though DeMayo’s full X-Corp twist may be altered.
