Matthew Chauncey, known for his work on Marvel’s “What If…?”, has been appointed as the new showrunner for Season 3 of Disney+’s “X-Men ’97,” a revival of the beloved ’90s animated series. This change comes after Beau DeMayo, who worked on the first two seasons, parted ways with Marvel earlier this year. Chauncey will collaborate with Jake Castorena, the director of “X-Men ’97,” who has been involved with the project from the beginning. Larry Houston and Eric and Julia Lewald, who were executive producers on the original series, will continue as consulting producers.
“X-Men ’97” revisits the iconic era of the 1990s, focusing on a group of mutants who use their unique abilities to protect a world that fears and hates them. The revival has been well-received, garnering critical acclaim and strong ratings. The first two episodes amassed 4 million views within their first five days on Disney+, and the Season 1 finale drew 3.5 million views in its first five days, making it the platform’s most-viewed full-length animation series finale since the first season of “What If…?”
Chauncey’s involvement in “What If…?” and his work on Marvel’s live-action series “Ms. Marvel” make him a fitting choice for “X-Men ’97.” He is represented by WME, Writ Large, and Behr Abramson Levy Johnson.
The voice cast for “X-Men ’97” includes Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, JP Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler.
The original “X-Men: The Animated Series” premiered on October 31, 1992, and quickly became a formative experience for many fans. The series introduced a generation to the world of the X-Men, with its memorable theme song and character designs becoming definitive versions for many. The show ran for five seasons, and its impact has endured, leading to the highly anticipated revival.
The first season of “X-Men: The Animated Series” focused on the threat posed by humans to mutantkind, with the Sentinels and their creators as the primary antagonists. The season’s narrative highlighted the dangers mutants faced from humanity and other mutants like Magneto and Apocalypse, who sought to exploit the chaos for their own agendas. This framework introduced viewers to the core philosophy of the X-Men, who use their abilities to protect a world that fears them.
Key episodes from the first season include the two-part pilot “Night of the Sentinels,” which sets the stage for the human-mutant conflict, and “Slave Island,” which reveals the Genoshan government’s enslavement of mutants. The two-part “Days of Future Past” offers a vision of a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels, while the season finale “The Final Decision” sees the X-Men teaming up with Magneto to stop the Sentinels’ plan to eradicate humanity.
Standout moments from the first season include the death of Morph, which had a significant impact on the team, and the emergence of Apocalypse as a master manipulator. The season finale features an action-packed showdown with the Sentinels, culminating in Professor X and Magneto destroying Master Mold.
Wolverine emerged as a standout character in the first season, with his solo adventures and memorable one-liners. Guest stars like Bishop and villains like Mystique and Apocalypse also made a significant impact.
The first season drew inspiration from various comic book storylines, including the 1991 relaunch of the X-Men and classic stories like “Days of Future Past” and the introduction of the Morlocks. While some adaptations were more successful than others, the season’s ambition and commitment to serialized storytelling were impressive.
As “X-Men ’97” continues to build on the legacy of the original series, fans can look forward to seeing how the new showrunner, Matthew Chauncey, will shape the future of the beloved mutants.
Source: Deadline
