Since the dawn of its cinematic incarnation, no X-Men adaptation has generated as much anticipation as the second season of X-Men ’97, which lands on July 1 on Disney+. After the first season took home the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Animated Series, it was clear this wasn’t just another animated superhero show. Its secret lies in an exquisite balance: a nostalgia that wraps around you from the very title, paired with a distinct identity and quality that keeps it standing on its own, without needing to lean on the affection of longtime fans.
Just two years ago, X-Men ’97 racked up 4 million views in its first five days, becoming the platform’s biggest animated-series premiere since What If…? While that hasn’t made it a massive follow-up hit (its content remains a niche bet), its carefully crafted animation style—faithful to the 1990s original yet modern enough—has earned countless accolades. The proof is in the numbers: the original 1992 series has doubled its viewing on the platform since the premiere of this new X-Men ’97.
The story launches us into a sprawling intertemporal scramble that literally makes history: from ancient Egypt, where Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast gather, to the year 3960, where Cyclops and Jean Grey meet future versions of their own children. Apocalypse is the central antagonist this time, in a season that won’t have any trouble surpassing the lackluster live-action version from a few years back. Among the new names in the cast, Neve Campbell stands out as Polaris, Magneto’s daughter.
A quick look at the episode titles hints at the settings and foes the season will bring: there’s a Days of Past Future, obviously riffing on the classic Days of Future Past; A Force to Be Reckoned With introduces X-Force; Rise of Apocalypse nods to one of the team’s most formidable enemies; Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs sends us back to Wolverine’s Weapon X era; Strange Land, Savage Heart points to one of the fans’ favorite locales, the Savage Land; and The Dead Man’s Hand may be a wink to Gambit’s return. Several supporting characters are confirmed, including Sabretooth, Psylocke, Archangel, Colossus, among many others.
On Xataka | Today one of Netflix’s biggest hits returns: 60 million views and six weeks in the top 10.