The X-Men are returning, but they are far from home. Following the massive cliffhanger of Season 1, the team is scattered across time, setting the stage for an epic second season centered on Apocalypse. With a summer 2026 release on Disney+ confirmed, new details have emerged about the huge roster of heroes and villains joining the fight.
The story picks up immediately from the Season 1 finale. The team is split across different eras: Cyclops and Jean Grey are stranded in the distant future, 3960 A.D., while Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast find themselves in ancient Egypt in 3000 B.C. Back in the 1990s present, Bishop and Forge hold down the fort. This separation means the team dynamic fans loved will change, as stories unfold across these timelines before (hopefully) reuniting.
The Core X-Men Team Returning for Season 2
The main voice cast from the celebrated first season is returning to reprise their roles. These characters are the heart of the series, and each was left in a precarious position that Season 2 will address.
- Wolverine (Cal Dodd): The fan-favorite mutant endured a brutal injury when Magneto ripped the adamantium from his skeleton. A glimpse in the Season 2 trailer shows Wolverine declaring his return, ready to fight once more.
- Cyclops (Ray Chase) & Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale): Stranded in the future, this couple met their adult son, Nathan Summers, setting up a direct confrontation with Apocalypse and the origin story for the warrior Cable.
- Rogue (Lenore Zann): After suffering the emotional loss of Magneto, Rogue is on a “hero’s journey” in Season 2. The actor has hinted at “a lot of romance” for Rogue and Magneto as they navigate ancient Egypt together.
- Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith): Having regained her powers and confidence, Storm is expected to resume her leadership role in the present day alongside Forge.
- Beast (George Buza), Jubilee (Holly Chou), Morph (JP Karliak), and Nightcrawler (Adrian Hough): These key team members will continue their stories, with Beast’s intellect being crucial against Apocalypse’s ancient technology.
Professor X and Magneto are also confirmed to return, with their complicated relationship continuing to be a focal point, especially while stranded in the past.
New Heroes and Villains Joining the Battle
Season 2 will introduce several new characters to the animated series, expanding the world and the threats the X-Men face. Footage from events like D23 2024 and New York Comic Con 2025 revealed many of these additions.
New heroes stepping into the light include:
- Polaris: The daughter of Magneto, known for her magnetic powers.
- Havok: The brother of Cyclops, who can absorb and emit cosmic energy.
- Mariko: A love interest for Wolverine from the comics.
- Danger: A sentient, dangerous manifestation of the X-Men’s own training room.
On the villainous side, formidable foes are lining up alongside Apocalypse:
- Sabretooth: Wolverine’s feral and relentless arch-nemesis.
- Lady Deathstrike: A cyborg assassin with adamantium claws.
- Warlock: A member of the alien techno-organic Phalanx.
Ross Marquand, the voice of Apocalypse, described the overhauled season as “very, very dark” due to the amount of character deaths occurring throughout the story.
The Apocalypse Storyline and Time-Jumping Plot
The ancient mutant Apocalypse, voiced by Ross Marquand, is the central villain of Season 2. His ideology of “survival of the fittest” and his ability to manipulate time make him a threat that spans the eras where the X-Men are lost.
The plot will involve the scattered X-Men trying to find their way back to the 1990s while confronting Apocalypse’s influence in both the past and the future. This time-jumping narrative allows for major comic book storylines to be adapted, including elements reminiscent of the Age of Apocalypse. The season will also “tee up Season 3 in a massive way,” as confirmed by the creators at New York Comic Con.
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Season 2 Production Details and New Look
Production on X-Men ’97 Season 2 has seen significant developments. Original head writer Beau DeMayo completed the season’s scripts before his firing in March 2024. Matthew Chauncey, a writer from What If…?, was hired to oversee rewrites and will serve as head writer for the confirmed Season 3.
Visually, the team will get a notable update. They will wear the black and yellow uniforms designed by artist Frank Quitely for the New X-Men comic series. The show retains its 2D animation style but with a modernized quality that stays true to the 1990s aesthetic.
Fans can mark their calendars for the return of the mutant heroes. X-Men ’97 Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in the summer of 2026. With the team scattered, new allies and enemies arriving, and Apocalypse looming, the wait for new episodes promises to be worth it.
Also Read: Shrinking Season 3 Release Info, Cast Details and Rave Reviews
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