In this Wednesday's jaw-dropping episode of X-Men '97, we witnessed the horrifying destruction of Genosha after a Sentinel attack that comic book fans will likely remember from Grand Morrison and Frank Quitely's iconic New X-Men run.
"Remember It" ended with the brutal deaths of Magneto and Gambit, not to mention countless other mutants. Fans have since theorised that the time-travelling Cable could make things right, while there are also many suggestions out there regarding who orchestrated the attack.
Of course, readers of Morrison's Marvel work will know that it was Professor X's twin sister, Cassandra Nova, who unleashed the Sentinel attack on the page. Does that mean she's guaranteed to make an appearance in X-Men '97, though?
"I wouldn't get my hopes up for Cassandra Nova being a huge villain in our show," supervising producer/head director Jake Castorena told Inverse (via Toonado.com). "But what I will say is, I don't think people will be disappointed with our choices. I like Cassandra Nova for what she ultimately boils down to."
Episide 5 director Emi Yonemura adds, "I love her because she is a challenge for Xavier. I really love the tensions that she brings, the whole other level that she brings. I love her character design as well."
"I cannot say where we go, but I think what's so nice about using the original series and the comics for where we start [is that it] gives us so many options with so many rich characters like Cassandra to get to play with."
In the comics, Cassandra Nova was a "Mummudrai," a spirit that's considered the equal and opposite of a person in Shi'ar culture. However, given Charles Xavier's incredibly powerful latent mutant powers, his Mummudrai took on a physical form in the womb as his "twin."
The baby Charles instinctively recognised her as a threat and the ensuing battle saw his and Cassandra's mother miscarry the X-Men leader's sister.
It was later revealed she'd survived as a mass of cells in a sewer wall (seriously), managing to build a body for herself while planning the ultimate revenge on Charles.
X-Men '97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
The first five episodes of X-Men '97 are now streaming on Disney+ with new instalments following weekly.