The X-Men ’97 animated series is still making waves of excitement among fans, with its nostalgic value and new storylines. But amid the gripping plot and intense characters, the show is also serving as a home to a few of the most heartbreaking scenes. Take for example Gambit’s gut-wrenching death sequence featuring Rogue holding his lifeless body.
This particular scene from X-Men ’97 episode 5 stuck with millions of fans who felt the raw emotions and sentiments behind the scene. Adding insult to injury, actress Lenore Zann who voiced Rogue, discussed the backstory of the sequence. Revealing via X, Zann claimed that the scene was inspired by a real-life tragedy, which made it even more poignant.
Rogue and Gambit’s Heartbreaking Scene From X-Men ’97
While X-Men ’97 started on a happy and lighthearted note, clinging onto the nostalgic storyline and bringing back the iconic characters, the show soon turned gruesome and intense for the audiences. By episode 5, people were left bawling their eyes out after witnessing Gambit’s death scene and Rogue’s painful realization of losing her potential lover.
The “Remember It” episode of X-Men ’97 is undoubtedly the strongest chapter of the show, which ended on a devastating note when the Mutant nation of Genosha came under attack by a giant Sentinel. The war and attempt to save the nation led to the loss of lives, including Magneto and Gambit who sacrificed themselves to save the mutant-kind. With two core X-Men being dead, the show ended on a tragic note.
However, some believe the real tragedy took place when Rogue witnessed Gambit succumb to death, following his heroic act to save Genosha. The sacrifice of the X-Men character and the heart-wrenching interaction between Rogue and Gambit’s lifeless body not only send fans into a heart-wrenching spiral but also lead them to somehow empathize with the character.
Lenore Zann Revealed the Real-Life Tragedy that Inspired Her
This particular sequence from X-Men ’97 turned into a significant moment and an unforgettable scene, following Rogue’s final words “Sugah, I — I can’t feel you.” As she touched his skin bare-handed for the first time and felt his lifeless body, Rogue probably uttered the most painful words in the whole series.
Although this particular scene was enough of a torture and heartbreak for fans, Rogue actress Lenore Zann turned it even more poignant after revealing the real-life inspiration behind it. This particular scene had critics and fans convinced that the actress who voiced the character suffered a personal tragedy that influenced her performance.
Yes. You can. Dig deep. Let it out. Cry. Scream. But face it. Where does the grief come from?
When my 17 year old niece Maia died shortly before I recorded Ep 5 it was like a rusty faucet started gushing water I was afraid would never stop. It did. Hang on. The story continues. https://t.co/fWL8pNgLuG
— Lenore Zann (@ZannLenore) April 11, 2024
Thank you so much, Sugah. Yes the pain comes from a deep place of grief over the recent loss of my sweet young niece Maia to cancer at just 17. But I believe it’s best to “use the blues” by channeling our grief and heartache into something positive. So I channeled mine into my… https://t.co/xIQf3yeueh
— Lenore Zann (@ZannLenore) April 24, 2024
In response to a viewer tweeting about X-Men ’97’s episode 5 ending, Lenore Zann disclosed that she speaks from experience. Revealing that she lost her teenage niece not long before, the actress noted channeling her pain through her performance in the animated show. Believing that it’s best to turn our life’s tragedy and heartache into something positive, Zann turned the scene even more difficult to watch with her backstory.
X-Men ’97 is available on Disney+.
