Warning: This article contains spoilers from X-Men '97 Episode 10, Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3 (Season 1 finale)
Earlier this week, Marvel Animation and Disney's X-Men '97 Season 1 concluded with the banging premiere of its tenth episode, Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3. The Disney+ show, which serves as a sequel to the '90's X-Men: The Animated Series, has been well-received by both critics and audiences, with many hailing it to be the best X-Men adaptation ever made. The show truly reminded viewers just how exciting Marvel's iconic superheroes and villains can be.
The Season 1 finale not only amazed viewers with the X-Men's spectacular battle against Bastion's powerful final form, but it also featured surprising Marvel cameos, the captivating drama between Professor X and Magneto, and a time travel twist. There's also a tease of En Sabah Nur, a.k.a. Apocalypse (voiced by Castlevania's Adetokumboh M'Cormack), in the final moments of the season finale, as well as a post-credits scene. Now, fans are wondering when we can expect X-Men '97 Season 2 to arrive on Disney+, and now we have an update from the head of Marvel Animation Brad Winderbaum.
X-Men '97 was already renewed for a second season earlier on. Today, Winderbaum confirmed to EW that the production team is currently in the editing stage of X-Men '97 Season 2. And while Season 3 was semi-recently revealed to be in the early stages of development, Winderbaum feels the pressure to continue the goodwill the animated series has garnered.
"It feels like a lot of pressure on all of us at the studio as we're cutting season 2, as we're figuring out our plans in the future," Winderbaum says of the show's success. "It is exciting and has taught us a lot of great lessons for the franchise."
While the Marvel head didn't reveal a timeline for Season 3, he reveals, "It definitely has kickstarted season 3 in a massive way."
Is X-Men '97 Season 1 showrunner Beau DeMayo returning for Season 3?
EW confirms that Beau DeMayo, who helmed the creation of X-Men '97, won't be returning for Season 2, following his surprising departure that has left viewers wondering. According to Winterbaum, the team "will have a new head writer for season 3".
He added, "We are honoring Beau's ideas for the second season." He also credited Jake Castorena, supervising producer and head director of X-Men '97, as "an amazing architect in his own right."
"So much of the visual storytelling of this show comes from him and our amazing directing team," he told EW with a nod to X-Men '97 episodic directors Emi Yonemura and Chase Conley. "So it does feel like there's a consistent voice. The mantra is the same, the goals are the same, and the source material is the same. As long as that's our guiding principle, that we're honoring the comics and the original show, that's the core to the creative pursuit."
All 10 episodes of X-Men '97 Season 1 are now streaming on Disney+.
