X-Men: The Animated Series premiered in 1992 and ran for 76 episodes. The show was a hit with comic book fans and delivered a near-perfect take on the mutant team that still resonates today.
It's no wonder then that Marvel Studios is revisiting this animated reality in the upcoming Disney+ revival X-Men '97, with most of the original cast returning to pick up where the series left off. Unfortunately, plans for the show to debut later this year appear to have fallen by the wayside.
While Loki, I Am Groot, and Echo are all still expected to hit the streaming platform this Fall, the MCU's animated offerings appear to have been pushed down the calendar as Marvel Studios shifts its focus back to quality over quantity.
A first look at X-Men '97 was revealed during last year's Comic-Con, but during a "Designing the X-Men" panel in San Diego yesterday afternoon, fans in attendance were surprised with new footage from the revival!
According to The Cosmic Circus, "The clip showcased the X-Men interrogating one of the antagonists of the show, Dr. Trask. Cyclops utters a variation of the iconic line: 'To Me, My X-Men.' Jean Grey was shown using Cerebro to enter Trask's mind during the interrogation."
The site adds, "Another clip featured the X-Men falling out of the air and Cyclops using his laser beams to slow down the landing."
However, it's CBR that broke the news about a major status quo shift for Jean. "[They] revealed Master Mold, a pregnant Jean Grey, Archangel and Bishop as official members of the team." Here's hoping that baby is Scott's and not Wolverine's, eh?
While the release date delays have been a cause for concern among many fans, the panel also saw Marvel share a positive update about where things currently stand with X-Men '97. During the panel, it was confirmed a second season is still in development and is now "nearing completion."
Stay tuned for more on X-Men '97 as we have it.