Draft:X-Men '97 season 3

The third 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. Matthew Chauncey serves as head writer.

The season was in development by the end of March 2024, with Marvel searching for a new head writer following the firing of Beau DeMayo. Chauncey was hired as DeMayo's replacement in July 2024.

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

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.

DeMayo finished writing the first two seasons and began discussing plans for a third by March 2024, when he was fired by Marvel Studios. Winderbaum said the studio parted ways with DeMayo, rather than firing him, and praised his work on the series. He said DeMayo's departure would not negatively affect work on the third season, which was in development by the end of the month and remained on track to meet its production schedule. The studio was searching for DeMayo's replacement by then. In July 2024, Matthew Chauncey, a writer on Marvel Studios' What If...? (2021-present), was hired as head writer.

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.

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