The first trailer for X-Men '97 was released yesterday and one of the biggest talking points has been the fact this show is using the same style of animation as X-Men: The Animated Series.
That makes sense when the revival is a sequel to that classic series, but it's still a bold move on Marvel Animation's part. Something else which keeps X-Men '97 in line with its predecessor, of course, is the return of some familiar costumes (which could have quite easily been redesigned for 2024).
According to Head Writer Beau DeMayo, there's a very specific reason they haven't been updated. "Every design choice is actually a clue to the storylines we're doing," he tells Entertainment Weekly (via Toonado.com). "Nothing is arbitrary...it is to throw the X-Men back to a time where they're thinking about: What part of this do I want to keep? Was it truly simpler back then, or were we just more naive?"
While the suits may be the same, the team's leader has changed. In place of Professor X, Magneto has unexpectedly stepped up to take charge of the X-Men, a dynamic DeMayo says will "take Xavier's dream and turn it on its head."
He explains, "When I first came to this, I was thinking about what the world of the ‘90s was like, even issues of social acceptance and what does it mean to be different? It was so much more simplistic than it is today."
"[The X-Men] spent years telling humanity to embrace the future, walk into the future together. What happens when they get hit with a future they didn't see coming? What does it feel like to be on the other end when you feel like that future is leaving you behind?"
We also have more casting news. As noted, Cal Dodd (Wolverine), Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), George Buza (Beast), Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler), Lenore Zann (Rogue), and Chris Britton (Mister Sinister) will all reprise their X-Men: The Animated Series roles.
However, Catherine Disher, the original Jean Grey, is now voicing Dr. Valerie Cooper. Chris Potter, the original Gambit, is now playing Cable. Lawrence Bayne, the original Cable, is now playing X-Cutioner. Ron Rubin, the original Morph, is now playing President Robert Edward Kelly. Alyson Court, the original Jubilee, will take on the role of Abscissa.
Ray Chase is the new Cyclops, and he'll be joined by Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, JP Karliak as Morph, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, Ross Marquand as Professor X, Giu Augustini as Sunspot, Gil Birmingham as Forge, and Eric Bauza as the Sentinels.
The site confirms that Divergent star Theo James, who worked with DeMayo on The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, has been cast as "a fan-favourite character" who the showrunner says "will surprise people." Deadpool perhaps? We'll see.
A new still from X-Men '97 has also been released which you can take a look at below.