X-Men ’97 serves as a revival of the beloved 90s cartoon X-Men: The Animated Series. The new series continues the story of the hit animated series by focusing on the titular group of superheroes who have become pop culture icons in their own right in the years since the original series went off the air.
In the 90s, the original series faced a tough road to production. In a recent interview, the X-Men ’97 creative team discussed the impact of the original show and its legacy while highlighting how perception around superheroes has changed. As a result, the revival series faces a drastically different fate in the modern era of superhero media.
X-Men: The Animated Series Was Rejected by Almost Every Major Studio in the 90s
X-Men: The Animated Series debuted in October of 1992 in an era where superheroes were not taken seriously in the mainstream media such as films and television. However, the series went on to be a success and will return to our screens in the form of a continuation titled X-Men ’97, produced by Marvel Studios.
The revival show’s creative team recently sat down for a conversation with Entertainment Weekly and discussed the impact of the original series on the wider superhero landscape. Actress Lenore Zann who voices Anna-Marie Raven / Rogue spoke about the challenges faced by the original series.
Zann addressed how Larry Houston, who directed all episodes of the original series, initially faced rejection from studios. She said:
“He couldn’t find studios that were interested in doing the show because they said, ‘Well, who wants to watch an animated series about superheroes? Fast forward, and obviously they’ve changed their tunes.”
Zann’s statement perfectly encapsulates how the superhero landscape has changed since the 90s, with the genre taking over mainstream media, as evidenced by the massive successes of franchises like the MCU. Creator Beau DeMayo, like many others, believes X-Men: The Animated Series laid the foundation for the superhero takeover of the 2000s.
How the Evolved Superhero Landscape Means a Different Fate for X-Men ’97
In the same interview, conducted weeks before DeMayo’s sudden firing from the animated revival, the creator expressed how the original series had become a cultural touchstone. DeMayo implied that 2000’s X-Men, starring Hugh Jackman, would not have been possible without the animated series.
In turn, the live-action film helped set the stage for more modern superhero blockbusters. In fact, director Bryan Singer reportedly watched all episodes of the original series to prepare himself for the live-action film. Hence, it is safe to say that the original series played a large role in establishing the modern superhero diaspora.
In contrast to the struggles of its predecessors, X-Men ’97 faces different challenges. In the modern era, where superheroes have taken over every form of media, there are often debates about fatigue and oversaturation. While the original series was burdened with the question of who would want to watch it, the same question might arise for the revival given viewers are spoiled for options in the streaming era.
However, as the creative team pointed out in the aforementioned interview, the original series always tackled relevant real-life themes, which allowed it to leave a lasting impact on viewers. Thus, with a little bit of its 90s attitude, some heartfelt nostalgia, and reliable yet powerful storytelling, X-Men ’97 could continue the legacy of the original series.
X-Men ’97 is set to premiere on March 20, 2024, on Disney+.
