Sadly, the first full season of X-Men '97 has wrapped, and based on the latest updates on the production schedule for season 2, fans could be in store for a lengthly wait for the continuation.
To soften the blow, Marvel has released a new episode of its Assembled series on Disney+, which takes a deep dive into the continuation and development of the rival of the beloved '90s X-Men animated series.
In that Assembled episode, a number of creatives, consultants and actors were interviewed to provide insight on the decision to continue the show.
Brad Winderbaum, the Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios explained that from its very inception, X-Men '97 was always envisioned as a revival that picked up right where the original series left off, as opposed to a reboot.
A number of interesting tidbits and anecdotes were also shared throughout the 55-minute episode, but there was a very "loud" absence in the form of the show's executive producer and head writer, Beau DeMayo.
DeMayo was fired on March 12, just days before the show's premiere on March 20.
No reason was ever officially given for the firing, although separate reports from various outlets speculate that Disney was displeased with DeMayo's OnlyFans account, and other members on the creative team felt that DeMayo was difficult to work with.
While the true reason may never come to light, it seems incredibly strange that someone so instrumental in the show's return and debut season would be absent from an Assembled episode, which are designed to be comprehensive, documentary-style specials that give a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of various Marvel Studios' shows and theatrical releases via exclusive on-set footage and interviews.
Speaking on his season 2 involvement, DeMayo recently shared, "I did write a lot of season 2. However, unlike Season 1, I will not be heavily involved or leading production, cast records, design, editorial, post, music, etc., nor doing any production rewrites as it relates to the creative vision of the show."
"This is why I’ve said I can’t really speak to Season 2. But, looking forward to seeing the final product with you all whenever it airs. I have high hopes."