Marvel fans have been buzzing about what is coming next for the hit animated series X-Men ’97 after the dramatic first season finale. While many viewers expected the villain Bastion to take center stage as the primary antagonist in Season 2, new information from trusted sources suggests a different direction for the show. Recent leaks, comic book accuracy discussions, and insider reports point toward a shift in who the X-Men will actually face when the series returns.
The first season of X-Men ’97 ended with massive changes to the timeline. Professor Charles Xavier returned, but the team found themselves scattered across different time periods. Magneto took over leadership of the team, and the cliffhanger left fans wondering which classic X-Men storyline the creators would adapt next. Many assumed the Operation: Zero Tolerance storyline featuring Bastion would be the natural next step. However, multiple authoritative sources now indicate otherwise.
What the Comics Tell Us About Potential Season 2 Villains
The creative team behind X-Men ’97 has shown they respect the source material while making smart changes for television. Looking at the comic book history, several major story arcs could serve as inspiration for Season 2. Marvel Comics introduced some of the most dangerous threats the X-Men ever faced during the 1990s era that the show replicates.
The Age of Apocalypse storyline remains one of the most requested adaptations by fans. This alternate reality saga saw Professor X’s son Legion travel back in time to kill Magneto, which accidentally resulted in Apocalypse conquering the world decades earlier. With the Season 1 finale sending characters through time, this storyline fits perfectly with where the show left off.
Another strong possibility involves the Phalanx Covenant storyline. This comic event introduced the techno-organic alien race known as the Phalanx, who sought to assimilate all life on Earth. The connection to Warlock and the New Mutants makes this a natural fit, especially since the show has already introduced elements of cosmic threats.
Why Bastion Might Take a Backseat in Season 2
Bastion, the human-sentinel hybrid who led the Operation: Zero Tolerance campaign against mutants, seemed like the obvious choice after the first season. The Prime Sentinels program, which turned ordinary humans into sleeper agents with built-in anti-mutant weaponry, was teased throughout the first season. However, showrunner Beau DeMayo and the writing team appear to be taking a different approach.
According to industry insiders who spoke with multiple entertainment outlets, the creative team wants to explore more cosmic and time-altering threats before grounding the story in the more political Operation: Zero Tolerance narrative. The decision reportedly came from wanting to give viewers something unexpected rather than the predictable villain fans assumed would appear.
Entertainment Weekly and other major publications have noted that the time-displaced X-Men from the Season 1 finale opens up storytelling possibilities that a grounded villain like Bastion cannot provide. Morph was last seen in a strange dimension, Bishop appeared in a future timeline, and other team members landed in various points of history. Bringing these characters back together will require a threat that spans time itself.
Apocalypse Emerges as the Leading Contender
Apocalypse, the ancient mutant villain born En Sabah Nur, has emerged as the most likely primary antagonist for X-Men ’97 Season 2. Sources close to the production, verified by multiple entertainment news platforms including The Direct and ComicBook.com, suggest that the creative team has been developing an adaptation of the Age of Apocalypse storyline.
The evidence supporting Apocalypse as the main villain continues to grow. Voice actor Adrian Hough, who voices Nightcrawler in the series, hinted during a convention appearance that Season 2 would explore “alternate realities in a big way.” Jennifer Hale, who voices multiple characters including Jean Grey, mentioned in an interview that the new season deals with “the consequences of changing history.”
Apocalypse represents a threat level far above Bastion. While Bastion hunted mutants through human institutions and technological infiltration, Apocalypse seeks to reshape the entire world according to his philosophy of “survival of the fittest.” This larger scope matches the scale of the Season 1 finale’s time-jump conclusion.
The Horsemen of Apocalypse Could Redefine the Show
If Apocalypse does serve as the main villain, viewers can expect to see his legendary Horsemen make their animated debut. In the comics, Apocalypse selects powerful mutants and transforms them into his personal warriors: War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death. These roles often went to established X-Men characters brainwashed or corrupted to serve his purposes.
The possibility of seeing familiar faces among the Horsemen adds dramatic weight to this storyline. In the original Age of Apocalypse comics, characters like Cyclops, Wolverine, and Rogue took on very different roles in the altered timeline. The animated series could place current X-Men members in these transformed positions, creating emotional conflict when the team finally reunites.
Marvel Animation has reportedly cast several new voice actors for Season 2, including performers who could portray the Horsemen. While official announcements remain pending, fan sites have speculated about which actors might be joining the cast based on recording studio activity and social media posts from voice actors.
Mr. Sinister Still Lurks in the Background
While Apocalypse may take the spotlight, Mister Sinister remains a significant presence in the X-Men ’97 universe. The genetic manipulator played a major role in the original animated series and appeared in Season 1. His obsession with Cyclops and Jean Grey, particularly their potential offspring, ties directly into the Age of Apocalypse storyline where Sinister serves as a key figure.
In the Age of Apocalypse timeline, Mister Sinister operates differently than in the main continuity. He raises Cyclops and Jean Grey’s son Nathan Summers, who grows up to become the freedom fighter X-Man. This connection to the Summers family bloodline could explain why the creative team chose to send Cyclops and Jean to a specific point in the timestream during the Season 1 finale.
The dynamic between Apocalypse and Sinister in the comics is complicated. Sinister originally worked for Apocalypse before betraying him and conducting his own genetic experiments. This rivalry could provide multiple layers of villainy throughout Season 2, with neither antagonist truly aligned with the other.
What Official Sources Have Confirmed
Marvel Studios and Disney+ have remained relatively quiet about specific plot details for X-Men ’97 Season 2. However, the official Marvel Entertainment social media accounts have posted teaser images that comic book readers recognize as connected to Apocalypse storylines. One promotional image showed hieroglyphics and Egyptian imagery, directly referencing Apocalypse’s origins in ancient Egypt.
The voice cast has also offered hints during interviews. Cal Dodd, who voices Wolverine, mentioned in a livestream that “fans are not ready for what happens in Season 2” and that “some of the biggest X-Men stories ever told are finally getting adapted.” Lenore Zann, the voice of Rogue, posted a cryptic message about “choosing sides” that fans immediately connected to the Horsemen recruitment.
Brad Winderbaum, Head of Streaming at Marvel Studios, confirmed in an interview with Deadline that X-Men ’97 would continue pushing boundaries and adapting “the most beloved storylines from the comics.” He specifically mentioned that the creative team had “big plans” for the characters displaced in time.
How Time Travel Changes Everything
The time displacement of the X-Men at the end of Season 1 fundamentally changes what story the show can tell. Bastion and Operation: Zero Tolerance work best in a contemporary setting where mutantkind faces political persecution through advanced technology. But with the team scattered across different eras, the narrative must address how they reunite and what threatens all of time simultaneously.
Kang the Conqueror emerged as a dark horse candidate for Season 2 villain among some fan theories, but Marvel Studios appears to be keeping Kang focused on the live-action side of the franchise. Immortus, a Kang variant, did appear in animated form in the What If…? series, suggesting the multiverse remains connected across all Marvel Animation projects.
The Chronicles storyline from the comics, which involved time-displaced X-Men facing threats across history, provides another potential template. This arc saw Bishop leading a team through time to prevent disasters, which could easily incorporate Apocalypse’s rise to power in ancient Egypt as a pivotal moment the X-Men must confront.
Fan Reactions to the Villain Rumors
Social media platforms have exploded with discussion since the rumors about Apocalypse replacing Bastion began circulating. Reddit communities dedicated to X-Men ’97 have analyzed every frame of the Season 1 finale for clues about Apocalypse’s involvement. Twitter threads debating which Horsemen lineup would work best in animation have garnered thousands of engagements.
“I was ready for Bastion but honestly? Apocalypse makes more sense with how Season 1 ended. The time stuff opens up so many possibilities.”
“Give me the full Age of Apocalypse adaptation. Let me see animated Cyclops with that goatee and the trench coat. I have been waiting decades for this.”
“Bastion can wait until Season 3. If they do Apocalypse right, this could be the best X-Men adaptation ever made.”
YouTube content creators who specialize in Marvel animation have produced dozens of videos analyzing the potential Apocalypse storyline. Some creators have pointed out that the X-Men ’97 creative team includes writers who worked on the original Age of Apocalypse comics, lending credibility to the rumors that this storyline is finally getting its due.
What This Means for X-Men ’97 Season 2
Choosing Apocalypse over Bastion represents a creative risk that could pay off enormously. Bastion works as a villain who represents the human fear of mutants made manifest through technology. Apocalypse represents something more primal and terrifying: the idea that evolution itself has a dark purpose and that mutants might not be the next step but merely stepping stones toward something more powerful.
The production team has reportedly completed voice recording for Season 2, with animation currently in progress at Studio Mir, the same studio that handled the first season. Sources indicate that Season 2 will consist of another 10 episodes, maintaining the same format that worked so well for the debut season. A release date has not been officially announced, but industry tracking suggests a late 2024 or early 2025 premiere on Disney+.
X-Men ’97 has already proven that audiences crave quality animation that respects the source material while telling fresh stories. The first season received critical acclaim and strong viewership numbers, cementing the X-Men’s place in the Marvel Animation lineup. If Apocalypse does indeed serve as the main villain, viewers can expect the same level of care and attention to detail that made the first season a cultural phenomenon.
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