In a surprising and unexpected move, Marvel Studios fired the X-Men ‘97 showrunner Beau DeMayo ahead of the first season’s release in March. Though the reason remains unknown, he still gets the credit for the incredible success of continuing the story of the 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series. However, although he still completed the writing duties for X-Men ‘97 Season 2, he didn’t get to do the same thing for the third season. That said, news emerged that X-Men ‘97 Season 3 gets its new head writer with the What If…? scribe Matthew Chauncey.
Sources told Deadline that Chauncey would lead the writing works for X-Men ‘97 Season 3, replacing DeMayo. He will work alongside the show’s director, Jake Castorena, while Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald, who executive produced the original series, will remain the consulting producers.
The publication also noted that the scripts for the upcoming second season were reportedly revised, though it didn’t reveal if Chauncey had started working on that. However, the revisions may align with the direction the new head writer will take in the third season to blend the two seasons’ stories. His work for Season 3 is said to be in active development.
Who is Matthew Chauncey?
Matthew Chauncey is a writer and producer who is no stranger to the world of Marvel Studios. He also has experience working in the animation department, writing several episodes of What If…? Seasons 1 and 2. In addition to X-Men ‘97 Season 3, he is also the head writer of What If…? Season 3. He also wrote upcoming episodes of Eyes of Wakanda.
Outside of animated series, he has also worked on a live-action Marvel Studio show, like co-writing the teleplays for three Ms. Marvel episodes: Destined, Seeing Red, and No Normal. His other works are being a production assistant on Agent Carter and a story editor on What If…?.
What to Expect from X-Men ‘97 Season 2
Details about X-Men ‘97 Season 2 remain scarce, but the previous season finale has set the stage for the animated series to continue. It has led all the roads to the introduction of Apocalypse in the series. Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation Brad Winderbaum revealed earlier that it was DeMayo’s idea to bring the supervillain to the show, appearing in the mid-credits scene of the first season’s final episode, Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3.
“Season 1 was always going to be Magneto and Sinister with Bastion being the surprise villain in the second half,” he told Entertainment Weekly in May. “Apocalypse was never really on the table for Season 1, but he was always top of mind as we thought about the future.”
Apocalypse is known as one of the X-Men's archnemesis. He, too, is among the most formidable villains in X-Men: The Animated Series. He was last seen in the fourth season finale, Beyond Good and Evil Part 4: End and Beginning, and episodic director Chase Conley revealed he was laying low and figuring out how he would return following his separation from his Lazarus Chamber, which prolonged his life.
Another episodic director, Emi Yonemura, revealed that Apocalypse aimed to put Magneto and Professor X at odds, challenge their thoughts, and change their world perception. However, as his ultimate goal is power, X-Men ‘97 Season 2 may see what he will do to achieve that desire. As Conley said, the show has taken the story differently, so no one knows what will happen next.
“Our writers definitely put it there to make people think,” he said. “Every single word in the series is very intentional and combed over four times.”
Chauncey has big shoes to fill after the heaps of praise DeMayo received for his work in the first season. However, with his experience, fans must see what he will bring to the table.
All episodes of X-Men ‘97 Season 1 are available on Disney+, while the release dates of Seasons 2 and 3 are yet to be revealed.
