Since the culmination of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has faced challenges in maintaining audience engagement with their content. Despite some mixed receptions to their recent TV shows and movies, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger reassured fans that the studio remains committed to prioritising quality over quantity. While the X-Men franchise has been absent from the big screen since 2019’s Dark Phoenix, Marvel Studios has made moves to revitalize interest in the mutants. One such effort is the revival of the beloved X-Men animated series. Originally airing in 1992, the nostalgic X-Men ‘97 continues the story from where the original series left off, invoking feelings of nostalgia among fans who grew up watching the show.
The original animated series was known for its inclusion of classic Marvel characters like Captain America, Carol Danvers, and Deadpool, as well as for its crossovers with episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series. In a recent interview with Men’s Health, producer Brad Winderbaum hinted at the possibility of appearances by the friendly neighbourhood superhero, Spider-Man, in the upcoming X-Men ‘97 series, sparking excitement among fans.
He said, “We have a great executive who works for us and manages the continuity of the timeline. And obviously that becomes more complex as you enter the multiverse saga and tracking multiple timelines. X-Men ’97 fits into that ’90s timeline, along with the OG series, as well as those concurrent ’90s shows that would sometimes cross over with the X-Men. The potential is always there. Without going into spoiler territory, the original show does have a lot of fun cameos and ’97 carries that torch.”
Brad Winderbaum, who also created What If, always wanted to resurrect the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series. Marvel boss, Kevin Feige, impressed by the response to What If, asked the producer what else he had in mind and immediately, he proposed the idea to revive the X-Men series. The discussion then focused on getting the original music. Once the music was secured, the project gained momentum and a team of passionate X-Men fans was assembled to bring the classic series to life.
The creator then explained that the show is designed to attract both new viewers and old fans. The tone, retro style and performances are created to engage viewers even if they aren’t aware about the series. However, for fans of the original series, some elements pay homage to the original show. Every character’s backstory remains intact.
Other than X-Men ‘97, Marvel Studios has a lineup of animated shows in the pipeline, including Eyes of Wakanda, which will explore the history and mythology of Wakanda. Another highly awaited project is the third season of What If, Marvel Zombies and lastly, Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, which will focus on Peter Parker’s high school experience, promising a fresh perspective on the iconic superhero’s journey.
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