Fresh off the blockbuster trailer drop for Season 2, an exclusive Entertainment Weekly interview with the creators behind X-Men ’97 has revealed that a fourth season of the animated revival is already well in the works.
Executive Producer and legendary X-Men: The Animated Series veteran Larry Houston has officially confirmed that X-Men ’97 has already secured a commitment for Season 4 at the very least—and Marvel is fixing its biggest release schedule problem.
The most frustrating aspect of the X-Men ’97 phenomenon has been the agonizing two-plus year between the 2024 debut and the upcoming July 1, 2026 Season 2 premiere. According to Houston, Brad Winderbaum’s new animation framework has officially corrected the course to ensure mutants dominate Disney+ every single year.
They want everyone to know it’s only gonna be a year now between seasons, not two-and-a-quarter years. It’s gonna be a year until the next one and a year until the next one [after that]. They are on schedule now
-Larry Huston
While fans are counting down the days to the July premiere, the creative brain trust is already living in the late 2020s. Houston revealed that the team has already approved, reviewed, and finalized all the scripts and animatics for Season 3, which is being spearheaded by new head writer and Marvel Television vet Matthew Chauncey. The team hasn’t stopped there. “We are in season 4 giving script notes,” Houston added. “So that’s how deep they are into the development.”
With Season 2 locked for July 1, 2026, Winderbaum’s annual mandate means Season 3 will arrive in Summer 2027, and Season 4 will land in Summer 2028.
Animation takes an incredibly long time to produce, and nothing kills momentum like a two-year hiatus. By greenlighting and scripting Season 4 before Season 2 even hits Disney+, Winderbaum is treating X-Men ’97 like a traditional, high-output network television show rather than a sporadic streaming novelty. It provides job security for the creative team, structural consistency for the animators, and a guarantee for fans that the soap-opera cliffhangers will get resolved on a strict, dependable schedule.
Between the live-action X-Men movie currently being penned by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo, and an uninterrupted four-year block of X-Men ’97, the Children of the Atom have officially reclaimed their throne as the flagship priority of the Marvel brand.
Marvel Animation struck mutant gold with the first season of X-Men ’97. The revival of the original X-Men: The Animated Series captivated fans and concluded with the core team scattered throughout time, teasing a second season showdown on multiple fronts with En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse. We’ve known for some time that it was next up for Marvel, and now, thanks to a new trailer, they know when to mark their calendars for the Season 2 debut.
Season 2 of the nostalgia-laced will debut on D+ on July 1st. It was also revealed that the sophomore season will consist of 9 episodes.
X-Men ’97 Season 2 continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home. Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men’s absence.
Per an official press release, “the second season of the original animated series features 9 episodes, and the voice cast includes Ross Marquand as Professor X, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, and George Buza as Beast.“
While the live-action side of the MCU is currently dominating the headlines, Marvel’s streaming skipper, Brad Winderbaum, is quietly prepping the studio’s secret weapons.
Here is exactly what to expect from Marvel’s remaining 2026 animation slate.
X-Men ’97 Season 2 — July 1, 2026 (Disney+)
The mutants are coming back, and according to the cast, “a lot of people die.” Following the explosive, time-shattering finale of Season 1, the uncanny team has been split across the timestream. Marvel is kicking off the hype train with a world premiere event at New York’s Tribeca Festival in June 2026, paving the way for a full streaming debut later this summer.
The Timestream Split: The season will actively manage three distinct timelines.
The “Very Dark” Return: Voice actress Jennifer Hale (Jean Grey) has warned fans to brace themselves, noting that Disney greenlit an incredibly dark and mature narrative for the sophomore outing. With Bastion’s legacy still lingering, a new, massive cosmic entity is rumored to target the remaining mutants left in the present day.
The Comic Prelude: To bridge the gap, Marvel has launched an official X-Men ’97: Season Two comic prelude series, which lays the groundwork for how the remaining team members on Earth are operating without their core leadership.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 — Fall 2026 (Disney+)
The alternate-universe Peter Parker, voiced by Hudson Thames, who caught everyone by surprise with his cell-shaded, retro style is sliding straight into his second year. Showrunner Jeff Trammell is expanding the writing room for a massive 56-page narrative arc that changes the entire power balance of this universe.
The Succession Dynamic: Winderbaum dropped a fascinating comparison for Season 2, stating that the character interactions and political power struggles within the Osborn-funded ecosystem will mirror the prestige drama Succession. Expect power scaling and intense psychological warfare as characters challenge Norman Osborn’s grip on the city.
Enter Gwen Stacy & Venom: The official casting roster for the fall return has officially confirmed the introduction of Gwen Stacy/Ghost-Spider and the arrival of Venom, bringing two of the most iconic pieces of the Spider-Verse into Peter’s localized, alternate MCU timeline.
The Returning Heavy Hitters: Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Hugh Dancy’s Otto Octavius are both locked in for major roles, ensuring that the intersection of street-level vigilantes and high-tech supervillains continues to test Peter’s neighborhood loyalties.
Marvel Animation is no longer treated as a side project; under Winderbaum’s new corporate umbrella, it is acting as the premier destination for long-form character drama. Whether you are looking for the devastating, apocalyptic opera of the X-Men this summer, or the corporate, street-level chess match of Spider-Man this fall, the animated slate is locked, loaded, and ready to dominate your screen.
What’s exciting about the next few years is that we’re going to get subsequent seasons of X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on an annual cadence. So every year, there’ll be a new season and we can map out a longer arc to those stories.
-Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studio, Brad Winderbaum
“Season 3 is…I’ve almost seen animatics for the entire season, and it is incredible. I saw an episode the other day,” Winderbaum said in an interview with Collider following the Marvel Animation and Marvel Television panel. But he didn’t stop there.
After he was fired, DeMayo revealed he had a five-season plan in place when he created the series and it looks like Winderbaum and the creative team behind X-Men ’97 will continue to work from that outline. “There is definitely, more than possibly, more to come from X-Men ‘97. We’re talking about Seasons 4 and 5 now,” said Marvel’s TV big cheese.
Assuming Winderbaum’s “annual cadence” is kept, new seasons of X-Men ’97 will continue to hit D+ until at least 2029, giving fans their mutant throughout the decade!
The first trailer for X-Men ’97 Season was shown twice at NYCC and was not intended to be released to the public just yet; however, a fan in attendance recorded it and shared it on X and fans of the show are certain to be glad he did.
Apocalypse is front and center in the trailer, indicating that DeMayo‘s plan to adapt “Age of Apocalypse” for the second season remained intact after Matthew Chauncey replaced him. The first look also reveals what became of Cyclops, Jean, and the rest of the time-displaced X-Men, while also showing that those left behind have teamed up with some surprising allies. Omega Red, X-Factor, Danger and Polaris all popped up in the trailer as well, expanding the roster of characters and potential stories which is necessary for a story that remains told at a breakneck pace.
After sitting out the summer convention circuit, Marvel Studios will have a presence in the Big Apple this weekend where Marvel Television and Marvel Animation will provide an update on their respective upcoming projects. Per the official NYCC website, Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation will take place on Saturday, October 11th at 1:30 PM EST and feature “special guests” who will give “a look behind the scenes at Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ shows from Marvel Television and Marvel Animation.” What can fans expect? What should they not expect? Let’s think it through.
Part of the rebranding was a signal to the general audience that we’re creating a lot of options, and you can follow your tastes within this brand. Some will be more comedic, some will be more dramatic, some will be animated, some will be live-action.
-Brad Winderbaum
With Marvel’s streaming boss, Brad Winderbaum, having recently said that the studio was looking at viewership numbers before unleashing a second season of Marvel Zombies, it’s very possible that announcement could come at NYCC. The TV-MA show has been a hit, all but ensuring a return to the world run by the Dead Queen.
Speaking of second seasons, fans should certainly expect release windows and perhaps first looks at X-Men ’97 Season 2 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2, both expected to stream in 2026.
We will have a Spider-Man season every year if I have anything to say about it. What usually happens, as you know, in animation, is that there’s a bigger gap between Season 1 and Season 2 than in subsequent seasons, and that’ll be similar in Friendly. We will have to wait a little bit more than a year for Season 2, but then after that, it should come out on an annual cadence, hopefully.
-Brad Winderbaum
Given that animated projects are far easier to keep under wraps longer than live-action, it’s also possible that the studio could unveil a surprise on its 2026 streaming slate. With the success of X-Men ’97, fans have been hoping for Marvel to green light Spider-Man ’98 as a revival of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, though Winderbaum has done his best to temper expectations on that front. Still, animation holds incredible potential for Marvel, which is just only starting to be explored.
Marvel Television
More than any other of the studio’s divisions, Marvel Television has become a different entity since the Great Rebrand of 2024. As Winderbaum explained in a February interview with Screen Rant, the studio’s “priorities have shifted,” with the studio looking to produce “shows that can exist as annual releases, more like television.”
Unlike Daredevil: Born Again, the eight-episode Marvel Spotlight seriesWonder Man won’t be an annual release but it is a near-lock to be a major part of the NYCC panel. Very little is known about the project, which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley and with it set to stream in December, fans should probably expect an updated logo to accompany a teaser trailer and a more defined release date. With its streaming debut 2-ish months away, the teaser may even be released online, allowing those not in attendance to catch a glimpse at what Winderbaum called “one of his favorite things ever.”
Another project shrouded in mystery, the Paul Bettany-led Vision series, will also likely be included in the presentation. After wrapping principal photography in the UK earlier this year, the studio should be up for sharing an official title, logo, artwork, release window and maybe a first look at some footage from the show, which is shaping up to be weird in all the best ways.
Marvel Television’s portion of the panel should also provide a logo, release window and synopsis for The Punisher Special Presentation that will serve as a bridge between Frank Castle’s last appearance in Daredevil: Born Again and his next appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The “shotgun blast of a story” was co-written by star Jon Bernthal and will be among the studio’s most highly-anticipated projects next year as it will likely feed the blood lust of the Netflixers.
In early 2025, Winderbaum confirmed that both series would return to D+ in 2026 and shared his wish that both would become annual releases for the studio. “Season 2 of X-Men ‘97 is going to be in ‘26. We’re working on it now. To me, it’s important to try to get to an annual cadence with these shows and to have something that people can rely on,” Winderbaum proclaimed, adding “We will have a Spider-Man season every year if I have anything to say about it.” As the head of streaming, Winderbaum does indeed have something to say about it and now, he has said it.
While promoting Marvel Animation’s latest release, Marvel Zombies, Winderbaum revealed that both X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are on the books for annual releases for “the next few years.”
What’s exciting about the next few years is that we’re going to get subsequent seasons of X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on an annual cadence. So every year, there’ll be a new season and we can map out a longer arc to those stories.
-Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studio, Brad Winderbaum
By choosing not to put together a big Hall H presentation at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Marvel Studios seemed content letting Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps do its talking this Summer. Both films were a hit with critics and fans and generated plenty of discussion; however, with a year-long wait until the next MCU film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hits theaters, there will need to be some additional topics of conversation. And while production on Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Spidey film has been making headlines, it’s likely to move inside for a significant chunk of time, disappearing from the spotlight. That leaves Marvel Animation’s Marvel Zombies and Marvel Television’s Wonder Man on the docket and, so far, neither have drawn much interest from fans. So, what can Marvel Studios do to make some noise?
Without its every-other-year D23 convention on the calendar, it looked as though the studio may have intended to go the rest of the year without showing off its future slate; however, over the past week, the revelation that the studio will have a presence at a pair of events has provided some hope for a look at Marvel’s plans for 2026!
First up, Destination D23
Destination D23 is a Disney fan event, specifically a smaller, biennial event held in Walt Disney World that alternates with the larger, flagship D23 Expo. This year, it’s taking place from August 29-31 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. The event offers fans a chance to celebrate Disney’s past, present, and future through exclusive presentations, behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming projects, special guests, and unique shopping experiences. On Saturday, August 30th, the Walt Disney Studio’s Showcase will give fans in attendance “an exclusive look at the movies fans love, and a glimpse into what to look forward to from Disney’s film studios,” which, of course, includes Marvel Studios.
While Marvel has not been confirmed to have a presence, it is possible that the event will include an appearance by Kevin Feige. And with no films on the slate until next year, the panel could contain some information about Avengers: Doomsday, which remains in production in the UK.
New York, Neeeeeew Yoooooork…Comic Con
Held at the Javits Center from October 9-12, NYCC will be “Four jam-packed days of pop culture, film and TV studios, studio and brand activations, comics, celebs, authors, voice actors, panels, and geeky goodness right here in NYC. And most importantly, a home for heroes, villains, and nerds to be accepted and embraced,” and Marvel Studios WILL be there.
On October 11th, fans are invited to “join special guests for a look behind the scenes at Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ shows from Marvel Television and Marvel Animation.” With Marvel Zombies streaming on September 24th, only Wonder Man remains on the 2025 slate. It is possible–perhaps even likely–that Marvel uses the panel to roll out the first full trailer for that project but that’s almost certainly not all that they’ll get up to.
With Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again set to hit D+ in March, Marvel could wow the NYCC crowd with a first look at the upcoming episodes. Additionally, given Marvel Animation’s presence, a look at Season 2 of X-Men ’97 and/or Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man could be in order. It’s possible the studio could also provide a first look at the Paul Bettany-led Vision series and reveal additional animated projects in the works.
The news that Scream franchise icon Neve Campbell had joined the MCU as Polaris spread quickly, with some “insiders” disagreeing on what the nature of her role was. While original reports indicated Campbell was cast as Magnet’s daughter for the studio’s upcoming X-Men reboot, other reports indicated she would make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. As it turns out, Campbell’s casting was for neither of those projects.
According to former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo, Campbell was cast by him as the voice of Polaris for Season 2 of Marvel Animation’s streaming series.
Incorrect. I cast her as Polaris in Season 2 of #xmen97. She does amazing work bringing something new, and felt right to have a 90s icon pick up where Lorna’s story was left in “Cold Comfort.”
Voiced by Terri Hawkes, Polaris appeared in one episode of the third season of X-Men: The Animated Series. It’s unclear how big of a role the character will have in Season 2 of X-Men ’97; however, Marvel Television head man Brad Winderbaum did tease the potential return of X-Factor in the new season, which could set Polaris up for a large arc.
We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three. And we’re working hard on what that path is.
-Bob Iger
A busier than expected 2025, featuring three films and a total of six streaming series, has just gotten underway and is about to ramp up significantly with the highly-anticipated Daredevil: Born Again set to launch on March 4th. Following the return to Hell’s Kitchen, fans still have plenty to look forward to the rest of the year and it’s starting to look as though 2026 might be nearly as busy, including second seasons of two of the studio’s most well-received streaming series to date.
According to Marvel TV chief Brad Winderbaum, the sophomore seasons of both X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are planned to hit D+ at some point in 2026.
Of course, in the world of animatied projects things can often move a little slower than expected; however, Winderbaum reminds, at the very least, cautiously optimistic that Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will be ready for next year. “Season 2 in ’26, I think,” said Winderbaum before addressing the studio’s even grander plans for the hit series.
“We will have a Spider-Man season every year if I have anything to say about it,” said Marvel’s head of TV, streaming and animation. “What usually happens, as you know, in animation, is that there’s a bigger gap between Season 1 and Season 2 than in subsequent seasons, and that’ll be similar in Friendly. We will have to wait a little bit more than a year for Season 2, but then after that, it should come out on an annual cadence, hopefully. “
Pragmatically speaking, a second season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man might not hit arrive on D+ until mid-2026. That’s ok, however, considering fans are already looking forward to a jam-packed follow-up which will introduce Gwen Stacy, follow Peter and Harry’s plans with the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, follow Tombstone’s rise in Harlem and, hopefully, address how Peter’s father ended up in prison, among other things. It’s also ok because it sounds like another amazing animated adventure might be on track to return sooner than that.
“Season 2 of X-Men ‘97 is going to be in ‘26. We’re working on it now,” Winderbaum told Collider, confirming previous reports. The longtime Marvel exec then explained that as part of Marvel Television’s new approach, the hope is to have X-Men ’97, like Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, ready for yearly release. “To me, it’s important to try to get to an annual cadence with these shows and to have something that people can rely on,” he said. “This has been a challenge for streaming in general, but I really want to create television shows that feel like shows. So, part of that is creating a seasonal cadence that people can rely on.”
As it stands, fans have 4 streaming projects confirmed to arrive in 2026 (X-Men ’97 Season 2, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, The Punisher Special Presentation, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2) with another likely (Vision). Theatrically, the studio has set dates for Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4 while still keeping dates set aside for a pair of untitled films. All told, 2026 does indeed look to be another busy year for Marvel, Iger’s mandate be damned.
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