Summary

• X-Men '97 is an animated series that continues the story of the beloved 90s X-Men: The Animated Series.
• The series will feature a new animation style and will be available on Disney+ starting March 20, 2024, with a second season already in development.
• While it's unclear if X-Men '97 will be part of the MCU, there is a chance that it could be canon and play a role in establishing the Mutants' connection to the Marvel Multiverse.

“To me, my X-Men,” commands Cyclops in the first trailer for the animated series X-Men '97, which will continue the story first started by the beloved 90s X-Men: The Animated Series. The footage brings Marvel fans up to speed with where things left off all those years ago, before throwing us back into the fray.

Check out the new trailer and poster for X-Men '97 below.

This is the first real glimpse that fans have had of the new animation style, which will be used to bring the characters back to life on Disney+. As well as our first look at the series, the new footage also offers our first sounds, as we hear what the cast will sound like as the iconic X-Men.

The cast of X-Men ‘97 includes Ray Chase as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Lenore Zann as Anna-Marie Raven / Rogue, George Buza as Henry McCoy / Beast, Holly Chou as Jubilation Lee / Jubilee, Alison Sealy-Smith as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Cal Dodd as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine, A. J. LoCascio as Remy LeBeau / Gambit, and Matthew Waterson as Magneto.

X-Men '97 is now scheduled to premiere on March 20, 2024, with a second season already in development.

Will X-Men ‘97 Become MCU Canon?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has headed seamlessly into a new direction after The Infinity Saga, with new characters and stories being integrated within it. But, there are several other stories Marvel has gained rights to explore after Disney’s acquisition of Fox Studios, which also includes X-Men, effectively canceling its future at Fox. Although Evan Peters’ appearance in WandaVision hinted at X-Men being merged into the MCU, it wasn’t quite the case. But with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Patrick Stewart began that process, reprising his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X in the film.

There’s no straightforward telling on how the X-Men will enter the vast MCU, though it looks like Deadpool 3 will play a big part, but Marvel Studios has another project on the slate featuring the mutants. X-Men ‘97. Announced in 2021, this animated series is based on the X-Men Comics and is the continuation of the X-Men: The Animated Series. Being one of the first X-Men projects to be produced under Marvel Studios. And fans can’t stop but wonder if this will be a part of the MCU...somehow.

Series writer Beau DeMayo has something to tease about this theory. In a previous interview with The Direct, DeMayo said:

The one thing I can say towards that is, I know sometimes we say, No comment. They’re being obstinate. I'm gonna go with no comment here because part of the surprise will be finding that out when you experience the show.

The writer didn’t deny or accept the fans’ queries about the show being canon and just said the fans will have to tune in to the show to find out. Marvel Studios is great at using fan theories, mysteries, and speculations for great marketing strategies. Instead of confirming anything, the studio execs and the cast members associated with it always end up sending fans into further dilemmas, which undoubtedly attracts more of them towards theaters and now, Disney+ subscriptions.

The animated series What If…? was initially announced as an anthology, without any confirmation of its connection to the MCU. But, as it turned out, it was Marvel’s way of experimenting with multiversal stories and character variants. The first season's final two episodes broke the anthology format of the show and became canon to the MCU. Since then, one of those characters, Captain Carter, Peggy’s iteration of Captain America has made her live-action debut in Multiverse of Madness.

So, Marvel always has a chance to make the show canon to the MCU. It would allow Marvel to establish the Mutants’ connection to the Marvel Multiverse in retrospect. And since it doesn’t matter if the format is live-action or animation, Marvel may later adapt the stories and characters from X-Men ‘97 in live-action MCU films and original series. Moreover, DeMayo has recently worked on the MCU series Moon Knight, making him aware of where MCU is headed further.

Right now, the chances of X-Men ‘97 being a part of the MCU remain fifty-fifty. But with the emergence of the Marvel multiverse, and the impending introduction of Hugh Jackman's yellow-and-blue suited Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, it's very possible that the series will be littered with clues, teases, and Easter eggs connecting it to the wider franchise.