10 X-Men '97 Characters Who Need More Screen Time In Season 3

After two seasons, X-Men '97 has cemented itself as one of Marvel's most interesting modern projects, ushering in a new era for these beloved heroes. Season 1 was a major hit, and while season 2 was more divisive, particularly the finale, it still delivered overall, so it's no surprise a third installment is already scheduled for next year. X-Men '97's success has laid the groundwork for the MCU's reboot, especially as it features some of the most popular characters from the comics, many of who have received great development. Rogue, Jubilee, Professor X, and Polaris were among the standout heroes from last season, having received strong arcs and, in some cases, entire episodes dedicated to them. Unfortunately, this hindered other key figures and forced them to settle for a supporting role, while some barely received more than a few cameos. In addition, several popular X-Men haven't even debuted yet in the animated series, leaving these ten characters in desperate need of more screen time when season 3 rolls around. Colossus Image via MovieStillsDB Although he isn't one of the most prominent X-Men characters out there, Colossus is still pretty well known and deserves to play a bigger role after his season 2 appearance. Learning about the death of his sister, Magik, gave fans an instant reason to be sympathetic, and after helping the X-Men battle against Exodus, it's clear there's an alliance waiting to happen. Even if he doesn't become a permanent member, Colossus deserves a chance to fight alongside the X-Men, as he is extremely likable and a character that is often underappreciated. Therefore, season 3 should test the waters and give him more screen time, which would also grant him the chance to have some surprisingly heartfelt relationships with his fellow mutants. Psylocke Image via MovieStillsDB As part of X-Force — one of X-Men '97's most powerful teams — Psylocke did get her fair share of screen time in season 2. She often fought alongside Cable and the other members, taking part in various high-risk missions while also participating in the final battle, yet it still feels like we don't know all too much about this version of the character. Given she is a skilled telepath with the skills of an assassin, Psylocke is by far one of the most interesting mutants in the series. Her popularity has also increased through Marvel Rivals, suggesting she is more than just a bit part player. As a result, season 3 feels like the right time for X-Men '97 to invest in this fan favorite. Getting her own episode, much like Polaris did last season, would be the best way to unlock her full potential and highlight why this mysterious character is in such high demand despite still having so much more to offer. Forge Image via MovieStillsDB Having been involved in both seasons of X-Men '97 so far, you'd think by now that Forge would have made more of an impact, yet he's struggled to do so. Season 1 gave him an emotional story with Storm, and season 2 seemed like his big break with the hero heading to the future to rescue his fellow X-Men. Things didn't really pan out this way though, and he was mostly in the background throughout the second installment, meaning he desperately needs another opportunity in the spotlight. Be it alongside Storm or playing a significant role in a group mission, Forge deserves the chance to step up in season 3 and showcase the value he brings to the team. Kitty Pryde Since she hasn't actually debuted in X-Men '97, any bit of screen time would be an improvement for Kitty Pryde in season 3, but it's about time she featured in the show. Kitty is arguably one of the biggest X-Men members yet to appear, and her sweet, sincere, adventurous personality would add some light to a series that has gotten pretty dark. That said, Kitty can have quite a temper, and with her character often going down different paths depending on the continuity, there is a lot X-Men '97 can do with her. Although there is still a lot of room to flesh out other characters, the addition of Kitty would freshen things up and help make her relevant again ahead of the MCU X-Men reboot. With all her fellow teammates getting plenty of fanfare, it only seems right that she does as well in season 3, as Kitty has the potential to emerge as a real show stealer. Beast Beast is an absolute staple of both X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97, yet he was largely sidelined in season 2. The storyline didn't really allow for his incredible intellect to be utilized often, and even X-Men '97 season 2's ending saw him getting upstaged by practically every other mutant, which is disappointing. While Beast will never be the absolute center of the X-Men franchise, he's still a memorable hero that has a lot to offer. It's easy to forget he's actually a capable fighter, since he's often helping with team morale or conducting research. Season 3 is the time to change that, as Beast should be a more central part of the main conflict while being granted the opportunity to do battle for more than a few minutes. Emma Frost Given how big a character Emma Frost is, it's almost baffling how little she has appeared in X-Men '97 so far. Outside of a few cameos, Emma Frost has been largely absent from the series and certainly hasn't been a major part of the story overall, despite being one of the most compelling characters in the franchise. Often acting as a foe to the X-Men, Emma can range from anywhere between a wicked supervillain to a core member of the X-Men repenting for her sins. Throughout her short time in X-Men '97, a devious anti-hero focused solely on herself would be the best way to describe her, but there are so many ways the character could be explored. As much as I'd love to see her as a bitter enemy, it would be fun to watch Emma slowly becoming more aligned with the X-Men while keeping that mischievous edge. This could allow her to be involved in the complicated love triangle between Cyclops and Jean Grey or go through a compelling redemption arc much like Magneto. Cyclops Disney+ Speaking of Cyclops, he also needs more screen time in season 3, despite already being one of the show's main characters. He was a focal point in season 1, with X-Men '97 doing the character justice compared to other adaptations, and this continued throughout the start of season 2, as he was still heavily involved in the action until the plot shifted away from him. Still, with how involved he's been overall, it's understandable some fans may feel it would be fine to move away from him in favor of other characters, but Scott Summers is still one of X-Men '97's protagonists, who shouldn't just be dismissed. While it's nice to see character-specific episodes and some mutants being the centerpiece of certain storylines, like Rogue and Gambit during season 2's climax, Cyclops has been at the heart of X-Men '97 since the beginning. With this in mind, season 3 has to put him right back in the limelight; otherwise, he risks becoming sidelined and completely forgotten about. Jean Grey Like Cyclops, Jean Grey also took a bit of a back seat throughout large parts of season 2, and she shouldn't be kept on the sidelines for long either. Although their stories often intertwine, Jean and Scott are separate individuals who both deserve the chance to stand on their own two feet, but together, they are two of the most key mutants in X-Men '97. Both have been just as prominent as each other, but it is even more important that Jean gets adequate screen time in season 3 for two main reasons. The first is that she is one of the most powerful characters in the entire show, and the next deadly foe on the level of Apocalypse will require Jean's help to defeat them. The second reason comes down to her recent surge in popularity. With Jean Grey appearing alongside Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, she has been exposed to an entirely new audience. As a result, people are more interested in the character than ever, which X-Men '97 should absolutely cash in on. Mystique Having debuted right in the closing moments of season 2, at least as far as we know, it seems inevitable Mystique will get plenty more screen time in season 3. Fans have theorized she has already been in the background of several scenes disguised as other mutants, something the next installment could confirm or deny. Regardless, it looks like she's set to be a primary villain when season 3 rolls around, making it imperative that she gets the spotlight she deserves. Mystique is an incredibly layered character and could act as a more grounded foe compared to Apocalypse, meaning that, with the right investment, she may end up being the highlight of X-Men '97 in 2027. Storm Image via MovieStillsDB Out of every X-Men '97 character who needs more screen time, Storm is right at the top of the list. She may have had essentially an entire episode dedicated to her in season 1, but across the first two installments, she simply hasn't featured heavily enough for such a critical hero. Not only is Storm one of X-Men '97's most powerful mutants, but she is also among the most recognizable characters in all of Marvel, suggesting she's someone to build the story around. Unfortunately, if Mystique is season 3's main villain, it's hard to picture Storm being her main adversary, but that doesn't mean she can't still play a large role regardless. No matter where the plot goes, Storm needs to be more than a side character with big moments in battle, and should instead be one of the main features of X-Men '97, as her strength and popularity prove she's more than worthy of carrying the series for a while. Release Date March 20, 2024 Network Disney+ Directors Jake Castorena, Emi Yonemura, Chase Conley Writers Charlie Feldman, Anthony Sellitti, Beau DeMayo, JB Ballard Franchise(s) X-Men Creator(s) Beau DeMayo