Marvel Officially Addresses X-Men's Shocking Death & Major MCU Connections

Credit: MovieStillsDB Published Aug 12, 2026, 5:07 PM EDT Andy Behbakht has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2010, covering all the latest in Hollywood on both the big and small screens, from staying on top of the biggest breaking news, analyzing movies and television shows in Hollywood, to in-depth interviews with actors and storytellers. Andy's career includes having worked for publications such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It's Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more. Outside of his career as an established reporter, Andy is the host and producer of The Showrunner Whisperer, The Flash Podcast, the editor-in-chief of Multiverse of Color, and the network director of DC TV Podcasts. Sign in to your ScreenRant account WARNING: This article includes major spoilers from X-Men '97 season 2, episode 9. Another Marvel hero has fallen in 2026. One of the biggest Marvel properties is the mutants, and the world of the X-Men, as the world is currently experiencing a massively popular iteration of them through animation. However, the latest installment came with a heartbreaking conclusion for an established character. During an exclusive X-Men '97 season 2 interview with ScreenRant's Andy Behbakht, supervising producer Jake Castorena was asked about Nightcrawler's tragic death, following other characters who died in previous episodes. While heroes and villains are known for getting killed off in comic book stories, they don't always remain dead for long, as he shared the following about what death really means in this iteration of the Marvel universe: Jake Castorena: First and foremost, I will say: is anyone ever really dead in comics? Is anyone ever really dead? Make no mistake, Nightcrawler is dead, you'll just have to watch season 3 to see how it all may play out. That's what I can say. Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.” 🐺 Wolverine The Loner 🧠 Professor X The Visionary 🧲 Magneto The Survivor ACTIVATE CEREBRO → 01 Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do? ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever NEXT → 02 Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move? AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices NEXT → 03 A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into? AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails NEXT → 04 A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond? APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause NEXT → 05 A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do? AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes NEXT → 06 What’s your biggest flaw? AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong NEXT → 07 Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move? AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation NEXT → 08 What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants? ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY → Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity 🐺 Wolverine (Logan) “I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed 🧠 Professor X (Charles Xavier) “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful 🧲 Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr) “Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding ↻ PLAY AGAIN However, things weren't left completely grim for Kurt Wagner, as viewers saw the Marvel mutant engage with a certain Celestial: Eson, who viewers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline will recognize after he was introduced in Eternals. Castorena elaborated on the larger canon of the animated series and how they look to expand its world in the future seasons, with the following response: Jake Castorena: Sure, that's a great question. What's really wonderful is that, between the MCU and the Marvel animated universe - with the OG show included - X-Men was establishing the MCU before the MCU was even the MCU. What I like about that is that our show and our characters exist and revolve in a realm of their own. So, while we might be seeing other Celestials, and we could be seeing other demigods come in, that doesn't necessarily mean we're beholden to what our live-action partners in the MCU are doing. We both get to have our toys and play with them too, but we also both get to do our own things. What I like about that is it just means more exposure for more characters and stories. And more importantly, for us as fans, you get two kinds of candy. Why just limit yourself to one? Get all of it. So, I like that. But for the most part, we are definitely in our own established universe, which is great. Following the X-Men '97 season 2 ending, the story is far from done, as season 3 will be premiering sometime in 2027. While a launch date has not been announced yet, Castorena gave an update on how things are coming along with production on the show's return, from all the animation work and animation recording: Jake Castorena: We are currently working on seasons 3 and 4 right now. We actually just shipped our season finale for season 3 to go get animated, and we are already having animation come back for the first few episodes. Meanwhile, we are well underway in storyboards and animatics for season 4. While X-Men '97 season 4 is in development stages, Disney+ has not formally announced a renewal as of yet. Brad Winderbaum, who is the Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, previously told ScreenRant's Liam Crowley that the hope is to have the series run at least to season 5, if not longer. Serving as a sequel to X-Men: The Animated Series, season 2 of the Marvel continuation has a strong critical reception. Not only does it have 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it also has a solid audience score of 84%. X-Men '97 season 2 is now streaming on Disney+. Release Date March 20, 2024 Network Disney+ Directors Jake Castorena, Emi Yonemura, Chase Conley Franchise(s) X-Men Main Genre Animation Executive Producer(s) Louis D'Esposito, Kevin Feige, Larry Houston, Brad Winderbaum, Eric Lewald, Julia Jane Lewald, Victoria Alonso, Beau DeMayo, Matthew Chauncey Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Dis Distributor Disney+ Main Characters Cyclops, Mystique, Rogue, Beast, Magneto, Gambit, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Professor Xavier, Storm, Nightcrawler, Jubilee Producer Charley Feldman Where To Watch Disney+