X-Men ’97 captured lightning in a bottle when it premiered in 2024. The series successfully revived a beloved animated show while renewing fan interest in Marvel after several movies and television projects received mixed reactions.
Behind-the-scenes complications delayed the second season for two years. Production has since gained momentum, and the creative team plans to release new seasons annually moving forward.
Work on Season 3 is now nearing completion. Development on Season 4 is also underway.
Season 3 Animation Is Moving Ahead
X-Men ’97 supervising producer Jake Castorena recently shared updates about both upcoming seasons. He confirmed that the Season 3 finale has already been sent to the show’s animation partners.
The writing team has also started work on Season 4. According to Castorena, the writers recently began developing Episode 5.
“We have animation coming back for Season 3 all the way up until Episode 4,” Castorena said. “We got the best team in the game. So, rest assured, we’re baking that cake, man. We’re baking that cake.”
More Marvel Cameos Could Be Coming
Fans have praised X-Men ’97 for featuring characters from across the mutant universe. Cable, Bishop, and Polaris have become central figures, while lesser-known characters such as Doop have appeared in the background.
That approach gives the series room to introduce even more unexpected characters. Castorena suggested that fans should not rule out appearances by their favorite obscure mutants.
“I will say is nothing is impossible and we are fans ourselves,” Castorena teased about more cameos in X-Men ’97 Season 3 and beyond. “Please understand that we want to see cameos in certain characters too. I don’t think fans will be disappointed at all in Season 3.”
The Revival Can Explore New Territory
Surprise appearances are not the only advantage X-Men ’97 has over the original animated series. The revival can also explore storylines that network restrictions prevented X-Men: The Animated Series from adapting.
Castorena pointed to the Season 1 storyline involving Scott Summers, Jean Grey, and Madelyne Pryor. The story centered on the birth of a child who would eventually grow up to become Cable.
The original series could not tell that story. Castorena said former executive producers Eric Lewald, Larry Houston, and Julia Lewald faced limits on what the network would allow.
“When you talk to Eric, Larry and Julia (original executive producers on X-Men: The Animated Series) about all this stuff, they weren’t allowed to do that at the network back then,” Castorena said. “Out of all the things and all of the stories and all of the, not watering down that they did with prejudice in the show, that’s the one thing they weren’t able to do. So for us to be able to like open up with that in Season 1 was pretty rad.”
With Season 3 nearing completion and Season 4 already taking shape, X-Men ’97 appears positioned to maintain its momentum. The series also continues to expand the stories and characters that Marvel’s original animated show could only begin to explore.
