Not since WandaVision has a Marvel Studios’ streaming project generated as much positive online hype as X-Men ’97. The animated revival has been overwhelmingly well-received and has fans clamoring for more projects set within a connected animated universe. With Season 1 nearing the end of its run, fans are already looking ahead to Season 2, which is deep in development. A third season of the series was recently given the green light but with a comic book history as deep and storied as that of the X-Men, it’s a series that could certainly make a long run. Just how long is unclear but it seems as though there was a clear plan in place at one point.
According to Beau DeMayo, who served as the showrunner for Season 1 and the yet-to-be-released Season 2 before being relieved of his duties, there was a 5-season plan in place for X-Men ’97.
Though he’s no longer officially associated with the series, DeMayo has been incredibly active on social media. Whether addressing fan questions and concerns, explaining creative decisions or supplying fans with weekly “homework assignments” to prepare them for the next episode, DeMayo has been a major part of the weekly water cooler discussion. When asked this week if the impending Season 1 finale would end of a cliffhanger, DeMayo skirted the question while also providing a very interesting bit of information.
While we’ll have to wait until next week to see how things will be left, it seems as though the studio, at one point in time, had big plans for the series. Whether or not the studio will go through with DeMayo’s original plan remains to be seen but with the amount of positive attention the show has received to date, it’s hard to imagine they won’t milk it for everything they can.
With Season 1 ending soon, fans are already looking ahead to what future seasons may hold. While the most recent episode has generated a lot of speculation about the Marvel Comics villain Onslaught making an appearance, another major X-Men villain has been the subject of most fan theories for quite some time: Apocalypse. When asked by a fan if adapting the villain’s most famous story, Age of Apocalypse, into a future season of X-Men ’97 was part of the plan, DeMayo made it pretty clear things are headed in that direction.
Of course, there’s plenty left to wrap up in next week’s season finale and with the fast pace of the animated series, it’s not as though an adaptation of Age of Apocalypse–or any other revered comic book story–would last an entire season. However, given the success of the series, it’s good to know that even though he’s no longer part of the team, DeMayo may have left behind a very complete road map to success for future seasons.
