Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The highly anticipated animated series, X-Men '97 Season 2, is scheduled to premiere exclusively on the Disney+ streaming service on July 1, 2026.
The new season will consist of nine episodes and has already garnered critical acclaim with very positive early reviews.
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The series promises even more intense and dark adventures for the mutants.
The world premiere for the second season was held at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, 2026, sparking fan excitement.
This season will see the X-Men return to a more complex conflict, with members scattered across multiple timelines.
Ross Marquand, the voice of Professor Charles Xavier, hinted that this season will feature a much darker narrative.
"This season will be very, very dark," Marquand said, "and a lot of characters will die."
Time-Traversal Adventures and the Threat of Apocalypse
The main storyline of Season 2 centers on the X-Men's attempt to return to the 1990s after being scattered across multiple timelines in order to stop Apocalypse.
Professor Charles Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast are stranded in Ancient Egypt in 3000 BC.
Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey find themselves in 3960 AD, alongside future versions of their children.
In the 1990s, Bishop and Forge continue their efforts to bring back the other missing X-Men.
The whereabouts of Storm, Wolverine, and Morph are initially unknown.
This season will delve into Apocalypse's background and motivations as En Sabah Nur.
Character Dynamics and New Faces
Amidst the X-Men's absence, a new wave of intolerance toward mutants emerged in the 1990s, creating new challenges for the heroes.
The character of Polaris, Magneto's daughter, will have a significant storyline that impacts both the X-Men and X-Force.
Some new characters or characters with larger roles that will appear include Siryn, Wolfsbane, Havok (Cyclops' brother), Archangel, Gui Agustini as Roberto da Costa (Sunspot), Chris Potter as Nathan Summers (Cable), Adetokumbosh M'Cormack as En Sabah Nur (Apocalypse), Gates McFadden as Rachel Summers (Mother Askani), and John de Lancie as Rama-Tut.
The main voice cast from the first season, including Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, J. P. Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, Ross Marquand as Professor Charles Xavier and Apocalypse, and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler, will reprise their roles.
Critical Acclaim
Early reviews show universal praise from critics, with X-Men '97 Season 2 holding a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews.
Critics describe the season as having "non-stop action, heartfelt moments, and the perfect amount of fan service."
The animation, action, and voice acting maintain the high quality of the first season, with the series maintaining its emotional depth, social commentary, and character-driven storytelling while expanding its scope.
The visual style blends modern animation techniques with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic from the 1990s.
Xavier and Magneto's past storylines are a highlight of the early episodes.