The X-Men are set to make a triumphant return to the silver screen on Dec. 18 in Avengers: Doomsday. Icons like Cyclops (James Marsden), Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and Magneto (Ian McKellen) will join the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe to confront the formidable Doctor Doom. However, there’s no need to wait half a year to witness mutants facing extinction-level stakes; a brand-new X-Men saga kicks off in just three weeks.
The 2024 revival, X-Men ‘97, serves as a high-octane successor to the classic original animated series, retaining that unforgettably iconic theme song. After an electrifying cliffhanger left fans breathless, the season 2 trailer hints at even greater turmoil when the show returns on July 1.
Staying true to its ‘90s roots, X-Men ‘97 leans into the more surreal, sprawling narrative threads of the source material. If you need a refresher on the current state of our heroes before the next chapter begins, here is a summary of the chaos so far.
What transpired in X-Men ‘97 season 1?
Image: Disney PlusPicking up from the 1997 finale, X-Men ‘97 began with Professor X departing for the stars to heal. In a stunning twist, Magneto (Matthew Waterson) assumed control of the school, having been named Charles’ successor. Despite the team’s hesitation, he proved his commitment to peace and worked to have the mutant nation of Genosha recognized by the UN.
Domestic life was equally complicated: Cyclops (Ray Chase) and Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale) welcomed a son, Nathan, only for the world to learn that Jean was actually a clone engineered by the sinister Mister Sinister (Christopher Britton). Sinister seized the infant, infecting him with a techno-organic virus, forcing the time-traveler Bishop (Isaac Robinson-Smith) to spirit him away to the future.
Disaster struck at a Genoshan UN gala when a devastating Sentinel assault claimed countless lives. Gambit (A. J. LoCascio) made the ultimate sacrifice to neutralize the threat, while Magneto was abducted by the hybrid antagonist Bastion (Theo James). Bastion utilized the techno-organic virus to transform the populace into “Prime Sentinels,” ultimately razing the Xavier mansion to the ground.
Following a narrow escape, Magneto triggered a global EMP, plunging the world into darkness. When Professor Xavier (Ross Marquand) returned to stop him, a brutal confrontation on Asteroid M ensued. In a pivotal moment of violence, Wolverine (Cal Dodd) managed to strike Magneto, who retaliated by ripping the adamantium from Logan’s frame.
Ultimately, Xavier breached Magneto’s psyche to restore power, but not before Bastion attempted to plummet the asteroid into the planet. The X-Men managed to divert the station into deep space, where it detonated. While the team was presumed deceased, the aftermath revealed that they had been displaced across the timeline: Cyclops and Jean are currently fighting Apocalypse in the future, while the rest of the squad is trapped in ancient Egypt. In the present, the villainous Apocalypse has emerged among the rubble of Genosha, discovering a remnant of Gambit’s legacy.
Is more X-Men ‘97 on the horizon?
Development on season 3 is already underway, with Matthew Chauncey (of Marvel’s What If…?) stepping in to lead the creative direction. Meanwhile, Marvel Studios is reportedly preparing for a live-action X-Men cinematic reboot, expected to arrive following the debut of Avengers: Secret Wars on Dec. 17, 2027.
Source: Polygon
