Marvel Animation has dropped the Season 2 trailer for X-Men ’97, confirming the series returns to Disney+ in July. The footage centers heavily on Apocalypse as the season’s prime adversary, while revealing a new roster of characters joining the fray. Per Marvel.com, the accompanying Season 2 poster pays tribute to the iconic Wolverine (1982) #1 comic book cover by Frank Miller.
What happens in Season 2 of ‘X-Men ’97’?
Per the official description, Season 2 “continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home. Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men’s absence.”
As Entertainment Weekly reported, the team is split across multiple timelines: Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler and Beast have been transported to Egypt in 3000 B.C., at the start of Apocalypse’s reign, while Jean Grey and Cyclops land in the year 3960 A.D. for what EW describes as “one big Summers family reunion with their children.” Bishop and Forge are left behind in the main timeline, tasked with bringing everyone back before Apocalypse can strike.
Executive producer Larry Houston told EW that the death of Gambit “looms greatly over season 2,” particularly for Rogue. “Gambit has been such a core character to the X-Men, pretty much since he debuted in the comics back in 1990,” Houston said. “He’s been a huge part of our storytelling in the animated series, as well, and I know fans have a lot of expectations on how we follow up on everything that happened in Season 1 in this new season.” On the season 1 post-credits scene teasing Apocalypse standing over Gambit’s murder site, executive producer Julia Lewald hinted, “Appreciate that a lot of folks are picking up breadcrumbs. And that’s positive.” Eric Lewald added, “If you were a betting man, I would say, follow the breadcrumbs.”
On Apocalypse specifically, Houston wrote to EW: “Ancient Egypt Apocalypse gives us this massively powerful mutant backstory. No one is born evil, but we see how circumstances led him to become the villainous Apocalypse.” Eric Lewald described the ancient Egypt version of the character as still figuring out his identity. “You’re not even sure if he’s a bad guy,” he told EW. “This is going to Apocalypse in middle school and see[ing] what it was that was going on in his head as he started to sense who he was.”
Who are the new characters in Season 2?
The trailer introduces several new characters, including X-Force, Psylocke, Archangel and Colossus. Houston told EW: “Polaris is as powerful as the mutant Magneto, and she not only has a substantial role in Season 2 but she has a pivotal character arc that affects both mutant teams X-Men and X-Force.”
Who voices the cast of ‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2?
The voice cast includes Ross Marquand as Professor X, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, JP Karliak as Morph, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler and A.J. LoCascio as Gambit.
Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, Larry Houston and Beau DeMayo executive produce. Jake Castorena serves as supervising producer. The series is already in development on Seasons 3 and 4, with Houston telling EW the team is committed to releasing a new season every year going forward.
When does ‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2 premiere?
X-Men ’97 Season 2 premieres July 1 on Disney+. Watch the teaser trailer below:
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