X-Men '97, Marvel Studios' long-awaited revival of the classic '90s X-Men: The Animated Series, is just days away from debuting on Disney+, and we have a major bombshell to share as the premiere date approaches.
According to THR, the show's creator/writer/executive producer Beau DeMayo has been fired.
DeMayo, who previously worked on live-action Disney+ series Moon Knight as well as early drafts of the upcoming Blade reboot, is said to have "parted ways suddenly" with Marvel last week. No reason for this falling out was given, but DeMayo's company email and Instagram have been deactivated, and cast and crew have reportedly been informed that he is no longer on the project.
Marvel had no comment. DeMayo’s representatives did not return calls for comment, and emails to the showrunner yielded no response.
DeMayo had been actively promoting the show on social media ever since it was first announced, and had interviews set up for next week. He was also planning to attend the red carpet premiere in Hollywood tomorrow.
Studios and creatives butting heads and deciding to go their separate ways is nothing new, but something like this happening so close to a project's premiere is highly unusual.
We'll be sure to keep you updated on this situation as we find out more.
UPDATE: Rumor has it that DeMayo's firing was due to him having an OnlyFans account and sharing naked photos of himself online. This has not been confirmed as the reason, however.
CWGST also weighed-in with the following.
The titles for all 10 episodes were recently revealed.
While the titles don't appear to give too much away at first glance, some of them definitely offer hints at what the episodes in question could focus on, and those familiar with the X-Men's comic book history are sure to pick up on a few things.
For that reason, potential spoilers follow.
E1: To Me, My X-Men
E2: Mutant Liberation Begins
E3: Fire Made Flesh
E4: Motendo
E5: Remember It
E6: Bright Eyes
E7: Shine With Strength Reborn
E8: Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1
E9: Tolerance is Extinction - Part 2
E10: Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3
In THR's report on the show's strikes-related delay, the series is described as "a spiritual and tonal continuation of the classic 1990s series that aired on Fox," and a "retro love letter to the original." The trade also confirms that plans are in place for a second season.
X-Men '97 will serve as a direct sequel to X-Men: The Animated Series' five-season run, but there's speculation that it may also set up the team's eventual live-action MCU debut (unlikely, but we might get a few hints and/or teases here and there).
Returning voice cast members include Lenore Zann as Rogue, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Catherine Disher as Jean Grey, George Buza as Beast, Chris Potter as Gambit, Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Christopher Britton as Mister Sinister, and Alyson Court as Jubilee.
The official synopsis reads: "Storm and Wolverine try to continue the X-Men. Magneto comes in and wants to step up for Charles Xavier. [Mister] Sinister comes in to try to end the X-Men once and for all."