X-Men '97 Season 3's Returning Villain Addressed By Marvel, 31 Years After Their Last Appearance

Published Aug 12, 2026, 6:29 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. A beloved Marvel property just left the world with a big cliffhanger. One of the major superhero groups that have been explored in media is the mutants, with numerous X-Men TV shows over the last couple of decades. With the summer season almost over, the latest series focusing on the iconic characters has finished another season on a crucial note. The X-Men '97 season 2 finale brought Mystique back into the fold, and not only does it bring another player from the original series, but Randall Carpenter has returned to voice her for the first time in over three decades. ScreenRant's Andy Behbakht recently spoke with supervising producer Jake Castorena, where he spoke about bringing back the iconic character after so many years, while having the same actor voice her. Castorena was asked how the show plans to expand upon Mystique in X-Men '97 season 3 and whether or not it took a lot of convincing to bring her back, or if Carpenter was ready to go. He shared the following: Jake Castorena: She was game from the get-go, which is great. That's the best part about a lot of our legacy cast that we are able to reach out to. They want to play! It's like, "Oh hell yeah, I'm back in, let's go." And the best part about her voicing Mystique again is that she's like, "These are old shoes." It's just so great watching our legacy cast just fall right back into that groove. That being said, you'll just have to watch season 3 to see if she does become as prominent of a character as people may or may not hope or ponder. I'm answering the question without really answering the question, I'm aware. That being said, I don't think Mystique fans will be disappointed. While details on Mystique's role in X-Men '97 season 3 remain under wraps, the show will be back in 2027. A premiere date has not been announced as of writing, but the creative team has been working on the new episodes. But Marvel Studios has more plans for the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series sequel. Even though an official renewal has not been announced yet, season 4 is in development, with scripts being written. 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 While Gambit was revived in X-Men '97 season 2, ScreenRant also asked the producer what the chances are of seeing Magneto get resurrected, and potentially finally see his Onslaught arc in a future season. Castorena kept things cryptic, as he stated that "our goal in storytelling is always to subvert expectations. So, we don't want to be too predictable, but we also don't want to not do things." He finished his response by adding, "That being said, season 3 will just have to figure it out, and you'll watch it all play out." For now, comic book readers and viewers will have to wait and see whether or not the Marvel icon comes back. As X-Men '97 is one of the most well-received properties for Marvel Studios, the mutants are getting ready to be reimagined in live-action. A reboot film is currently in the works for the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, with Thunderbolts*' Jake Schreier set to helm the movie. While the live-action feature has not been given a release date yet, Brad Winderbaum, Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, shared with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley in July that he feels confident about the animated series existing at the same time as the MCU's new version. He said, "Yeah, I think the two things can definitely run simultaneously. Look how many Spider-Man things there are. There's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, the Spider-Verse movies, the live-action movies, the preschool show. X-Men could definitely do the same thing. I'm not sure it has a preschool show, but certainly X-Men '97 can run simultaneously with live-action." X-Men '97 season 2 is now streaming on Disney+. 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 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 Producers Danielle Costa, Sean Gantka Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Dis Characters By Jack Kirby, Stan Lee 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+