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X-Men ’97serves as a revival of the beloved 90s cartoonX-Men: The Animated Series. The new series continues the story of the hit animated series by focusing on the titular group of superheroes who have become pop culture icons in their own right in the years since the original series went off the air.
In the 90s, the original series faced a tough road to production. In a recent interview, theX-Men ’97creative team discussed the impact of the original show and its legacy while highlighting how perception around superheroes has changed. As a result, the revival series faces a drastically different fate in the modern era of superhero media.
X-Men: The Animated SeriesWas Rejected by Almost Every Major Studio in the 90s
X-Men: The Animated Seriesdebuted in October of 1992 in an era where superheroes were not taken seriously in the mainstream media such as films and television. However, the series went on to be a success and will return to our screens in the form of a continuation titledX-Men ’97,produced by Marvel Studios.
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The revival show’s creative team recently sat down for a conversation withEntertainment Weeklyand discussed the impact of the original series on the wider superhero landscape. Actress Lenore Zann who voices Anna-Marie Raven / Rogue spoke about the challenges faced by the original series.
Zann addressed how Larry Houston, who directed all episodes of the original series, initially faced rejection from studios. She said:
“He couldn’t find studios that were interested in doing the show because they said, ‘Well, who wants to watch an animated series about superheroes?Fast forward, and obviously they’ve changed their tunes.”
Zann’s statement perfectly encapsulates how the superhero landscape has changed since the 90s, with the genre taking over mainstream media, as evidenced by the massive successes of franchises like the MCU. Creator Beau DeMayo, like many others, believesX-Men: The Animated Serieslaid the foundation for the superhero takeover of the 2000s.
How the Evolved Superhero Landscape Means a Different Fate forX-Men ’97
In the same interview, conducted weeks beforeDeMayo’s sudden firing from the animated revival, the creator expressed how the original series had become a cultural touchstone. DeMayo implied that 2000’sX-Men, starringHugh Jackman, would not have been possible without the animated series.
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In turn, the live-action film helped set the stage for more modern superhero blockbusters. In fact, directorBryan Singerreportedlywatched all episodes of the original series to prepare himself for the live-action film. Hence, it is safe to say that the original series played a large role in establishing the modern superhero diaspora.
In contrast to the struggles of its predecessors,X-Men ’97faces different challenges. In the modern era, where superheroes have taken over every form of media, there are oftendebates about fatigue and oversaturation. While the original series was burdened with the question of who would want to watch it, the same question might arise for the revival given viewers are spoiled for options in the streaming era.
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However, as the creative team pointed out in the aforementioned interview, the original series always tackled relevant real-life themes, which allowed it to leave a lasting impact on viewers. Thus, with a little bit of its 90s attitude, some heartfelt nostalgia, and reliable yet powerful storytelling,X-Men ’97could continue the legacy of the original series.
X-Men ’97is set to premiere on June 01, 2025, on Disney+.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1775
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
