X-Men ‘97 featured increased adult themes, from intense fights and action to the surprising love triangle of Rogue, Gambit, and Magneto. Many may not be aware that Rogue and Magneto are in a relationship in the comics, and the animated series has delved into their unlikely love story, resulting in fans clamor. Now that the show’s first season has ended, Rogue voice actor Lenore Zann addresses this controversial love triangle.
In an interview with Collider, Zann believed X-Men '97 would be “spicy” by featuring Rogue, Gambit, and Magneto’s love triangle after reading the first season’s script. As someone who has played Rogue for years, starting in the 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series, she knows her character and story very well. Hence, she was confident that she could have fun playing this storyline.
“I think it's great. I loved every minute of it,” she said.
However, the stage actress admitted that she couldn’t help but worry about how fans would react, knowing there were many Rogue and Gambit fans who called themselves “Romys.” The Canada Liberal Party member perfectly guessed that “Romy” shippers would never be happy about the love triangle. But as an actor, she was up for the storyline, which gave her more stuff to play with.
"It's always great to get those kinds of things because it gives you some more stuff that's fun to play with," she added.
Amid the negative reactions, with some blaming Rogue and accusing her of playing with Gambit, Zann asked fans to understand where her character was coming from. Sure, Rogue is one of the most prominent members of the X-Men, possessing incredible strength and superhuman abilities. But she has insecurities, too. She has the uncontrollable ability to absorb the energy of others through physical contact, making her unable to touch anyone.
“When she's in the dance club, and she's watching everybody touching and moving their bodies and everything, and she's like, ‘Yeah, I can never do that,’” Zann explained. “I hoped that the audience would understand where she's coming from. Many of them did, and then a lot of other ones were pissed off.”
Do Magneto and Rogue have a relationship in the X-Men comics?
Before Rogue and Gambit struck up a relationship, the former had formed a bond with Magneto. They first met in the 1984 comic book Secret Wars, and Magneto joined Rogue in the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #200. Though Rogue could not touch other people, her powers had unique interactions with Magneto’s abilities, leaving him unharmed even if she touched him, thanks to his electromagnetic force field.
They formed an incredible connection in the Savage Land, where Magneto saved her from Carol Denver’s clone in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #269. They grew even closer when they faced Zaladane in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #274, though she ended up leaving her. They had another shot at love in the Age of the Apocalypse timeline.
Here, Rogue promised a fatally wounded Scarlet Witch she would look after Magneto. Though having a brief flirtation with Gambit, she became more than Magneto’s friend in X-Men Chronicles (1995) #2. Rouge and Magneto got married and even had a son named Charles.
The first season of X-Men ‘97 saw the death of Gambit, while Rogue was stuck in 3000 BC Egypt with Magneto and other X-Men members. That said, more about their relationship may be explored in the upcoming X-Men ‘97 Season 2.
All episodes of X-Men ‘97 Season 1 are available on Disney+.
