Draft:X-Men '97 season 2

The second season of the American animated television series X-Men '97 is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team X-Men. The series is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), continuing the story of the X-Men. It is produced by Marvel Studios, via its Marvel Animation label, with Beau DeMayo as head writer and Jake Castorena as supervising director.

Cal Dodd and Lenore Zann star as members of the X-Men. Dodd and Zann reprised their roles from the original series. Work on the season began by July 2022, with DeMayo and Castorena returning. Voice recording began by February 2023. Writing was completed by March 2024 and animation work was underway.

The season is expected to premiere on the streaming service Disney+. A third season was confirmed in March 2024.

Cast and characters
A hotheaded mutant with a regenerative healing factor, heightened senses, retractable claws, and an adamantium-laced skeleton. Dodd reprises his role from the original series. A mutant who absorbs the memories, powers, and energy of those she touches. Zann said the character was on a mission to get justice for Gambit and the other mutants who were murdered in the first season. Zann reprises her role from the original series.
 * Cal Dodd as Logan / Wolverine:
 * Lenore Zann as Rogue:

Additionally, Lawrence Bayne—who voiced Nathan Summers / Cable in the original series and Carl Denti / X-Cutioner in the first season—returned for the second season. En Sabah Nur / Apocalypse is also set to appear.

Development
X-Men '97, a revival and continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), was announced by Marvel Studios Animation in November 2021. Beau DeMayo was set as head writer and executive producer, with Jake Castorena as supervising director and Charley Feldman as supervising producer. The Animated Series producer and director Larry Houston and showrunners Eric and Julia Lewald were consulting on the revival. Work on a second season had begun by July 2022. Season 1 directors Emi-Emmet Yonemura and Chase Conley returned to direct episodes for the season.

Writing
Writing on the second-season finale started by July 2023, and DeMayo had finished writing for the season by March 2024. The season will feature a storyline centered around Apocalypse that was first established at the end of season 1.

Casting and voice recording
Cal Dodd, who reprised his role as Logan / Wolverine from the original series in the first season, revealed in February 2023 that he had started recording for the second season. Lenore Zann, who returned from the original series as Rogue, stated in August 2023 that she had begun recording material for the season as well. By May 2024, she had completed her work on the season except for additional dialogue recording (ADR). Lawrence Bayne, who voiced Nathan Summers / Cable in the original series and Carl Denti / X-Cutioner in the first season, also returned for the second season. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic having less of an impact on the season's production, voice recording continued to take place remotely as with the first season due to many cast members being based in different locations.

Animation and design
The 2D animation style of the original series was retained, but "slightly modernized" to improve the quality and reflect advances in animation since the 1990s; Castorena described the series as "fresh, but familiar". Winderbaum said there was a "code of ethics" they followed to align with the restrictions of the 1990s animation, but they occasionally broke this for dramatic effect. Animatics for the entire season had been created by March 2024.

Music
In April 2024, Taylor Newton Stewart confirmed that he and John Andrew Grush, known professionally as the Newton Brothers, were returning as composers for the second season but they had not yet begun writing music for it.

Marketing
The season is expected to be part of Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the 2024 D23 Expo.

Release
The season is expected to premiere on the streaming service Disney+.