Marvel’s X-Men ’97 Trailer and Official Release Date

A TV set with VCR flickers on and urges viewers to tune in to the series finale of X-Men. For dedicated X-fans, we’ve all seen the dramatic farewell to Professor Charles Xavier, with the entire mutant team at his bedside. But now, 27 years later, the X-Men are back.

X-Men ’97 is a direct continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series. After watching the newly released trailer below, keep reading for some Cerebro-level analysis. Marvel’s mutants will return for good on March 20 — and they’re on a mission.

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Who is returning for X-Men ’97?

Since this new animated series is a direct sequel to the original show, picking up right where the 1997 finale left off, the team remains largely the same. Cyclops leads the charge, followed by Storm, Wolverine, Beast, Rogue, Gambit, and Bishop.

One of the characters created especially for X-Men: The Animated Series, Morph, is also returning. As his name implies, he has shapeshifting abilities. In addition to the main squad, we also see Jubilee and Jean Grey (maybe? more on Jean later).

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What is X-Men ’97 about?

With the demise of Professor X, the team might be feeling out of sorts. But that doesn’t mean their threats will let up. Someone is always lurking in the shadows to bring danger to the X-Men — not to mention the hordes of mutant-hating humans that are always protesting their existence.

However, other curious hints are also placed throughout the show’s trailer. An issue of the Daily Bugle flutters across the screen, with a headline about a mutant fashion show. Dust, Nature Girl, and other younger mutants appear on the cover. Then, we see Magneto’s infamous trial for his crimes against humanity. There are also a few shots that seem to take place in Central America, near a pyramid. A bird that looks like a quetzal flies up to the sky, flanked by statues of Magneto and Professor X. Could the X-Men be interacting with an ancient civilization?

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Where are the villains in X-Men ’97?

In this first look at the X-Men’s newest animated adventures, villains seem to be a bit scarce. But anyone who has watched the original show or picked up an X-Men comic book knows that X-villains are in a league of their own. Of course, we see fleets of Sentinels attacking the mutants but how exactly has this eternal threat returned?

It is confirmed that Mr. Sinister will be return in X-Men ’97. And we do get a glimpse of a pregnant Jean Grey. Could this mean we’ll see an adaptation of the Madelyne Pryor storyline, in which Maddy gives birth to a son with Scott but due to Sinister’s meddling, Maddy becomes the Goblin Queen? The original series already featured their son, Cable, so this would be an interesting full-circle arc. Aside from these villainous heavy hitters, Magneto is featured again at the end of the trailer. He’s looking out a window of Xavier’s mansion and his outfit is the same one from his headmaster era. Could Magneto be poised to take the X-Men into an entirely different direction?

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To your TV sets, X-fans! When X-Men ’97 begins streaming in March, the waves of nostalgia will be stronger than a concussive blast from Cyclops. And that’s saying a lot.

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