X-Men '97
Series, 2024, Animated, Set in 1990s
X-Men '97 is #17 of 18 in release order and #18 of 18 in chronological order in the X-Men.
The story
The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
X-Men '97 recap
In season 1, a year after Xavier is taken into space, his will leaves the X-Men to Magneto. Cyclops and Jean are shaken when they learn that the woman they thought was Jean was Madelyne Pryor, a clone made by Mister Sinister, whose son Nathan is infected with a techno-organic virus and sent to the future to become Cable. Magneto stands trial at the UN, and the mutant nation of Genosha is destroyed by a giant Sentinel, killing Gambit. The man behind the attack, Bastion, takes control of new human-machine Sentinels. Magneto rips the metal out of Wolverine and sets off a pulse that wipes out the world's electronics, and Xavier returns to stop him. Bastion tries to crash Magneto's base, Asteroid M, into Earth, and it vanishes, scattering most of the X-Men through time: some to ancient Egypt, where they meet the young En Sabah Nur, and Jean and Cyclops to the far future. Apocalypse arrives at the ruins of Genosha. In season 2, released in 2026, the X-Men find their way back to the 1990s to stop Apocalypse, who has brought Gambit back as his Horseman of Death. Gambit's new power lets him kill Apocalypse, but Apocalypse's soul lives on inside him, and Cable's X-Force and the government team X-Factor, led by Dr. Valerie Cooper, plan to kill Gambit before Apocalypse takes over.
X-Men '97 ending explained
Rogue, Beast and Nightcrawler visit a Celestial on Apocalypse's ship, who says Gambit can only be saved if Rogue gives her life. Rogue draws Apocalypse out of Gambit and traps him in a gem, which Cable takes. Rogue survives because Nightcrawler secretly took her place and died. In a mid-credits scene, Dr. Cooper is revealed to be Mystique, who kills the real Cooper, setting up a third season planned for 2027.
Where to watch X-Men '97
X-Men '97 is streaming on Disney+ in the US.
Ratings
IMDb 8.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 98%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The New Mutants, before Deadpool & Wolverine.
- Chronological order: after X-Men: The Animated Series, the last.
What to watch before X-Men '97
X-Men: The Animated Series (1992), which X-Men '97 (2024) continues.
Cast
- Terri Douglas as Additional Voices (voice)
- Ray Chase as Cyclops / Russian Judge (voice)
- Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey / World Leader #3 (voice)
- Matthew Wood as Additional Voices (voice)
- George Buza as Beast (voice)
- Ross Marquand as Professor X (voice)
- Cal Dodd as Wolverine (voice)
- Robin Atkin Downes as Additional Voices (voice)
- Lenore Zann as Rogue (voice)
- Holly Chou as Jubilee (voice)
- JP Karliak as Morph / Mullet (voice)
- Matthew Waterson as Magneto (voice)