X-Men '97 Season 2 Delayed to 2026: Drama, New Teams, and Controversy Unveiled—What’s Really Going On?

Marvel fans, brace yourselves: X-Men '97 Season 2 is officially delayed until 2026, and the road to its release is packed with more twists than a mutant showdown. The hit Disney+ series, a revival of the beloved '90s X-Men: The Animated Series, left us on a cliffhanger in May 2024 with time-traveling X-Men, Apocalypse’s rise, and Gambit’s potential resurrection.

Now, fresh updates from Marvel’s Head of Animation Brad Winderbaum, paired with explosive behind-the-scenes drama involving fired showrunner Beau DeMayo, have sent the fandom into a frenzy. From new X-teams to scrapped storylines, here’s everything we know about X-Men '97 Season 2—and why it’s worth the wait.

When Is X-Men '97 Season 2 Coming Out?

Mark your calendars for 2026—though it’s a bitter pill for fans to swallow. Brad Winderbaum confirmed the delay in a February 27, 2025, Collider interview, saying, “Season 2 of X-Men '97 is going to be in ’26. We’re working on it now. It’s exciting.”

This two-year gap since Season 1’s finale has sparked frustration, especially after reports from Nexus Point News in September 2024 suggested the delay might tie to production upheaval following DeMayo’s exit. Originally greenlit for multiple seasons in 2022, the timeline shift means we’re in for a long haul to see how the scattered X-Men reunite.

What Happened with Beau DeMayo and Marvel?

The drama behind the scenes is hotter than Cyclops’ optic blasts. Beau DeMayo, the creative force who helmed Season 1 and wrote Season 2, was fired by Marvel in March 2024, just before the premiere. He claims it stemmed from a Pride Month fan art post, but Marvel cited “egregious” findings from an internal investigation, stripping him of Season 2 credits.

DeMayo’s since gone vocal, alleging in January 2025 that a co-executive producer gutted Storm’s arc in Season 1 and revealing on February 8, 2025, via a once-paywalled video that Marvel scrapped his Season 2 plans for Onslaught and Age of Apocalypse. Matthew Chauncey (What If…?) now leads Season 3, leaving Season 2’s creative fate a mystery.

Which New X-Teams Will Appear in Season 2?

Here’s a bright spot: Season 2 will expand the mutant universe. Winderbaum teased in August 2024 at a Q&A (via ComicBook) that two new X-teams from the comics will join the fray. Clues point to X-Factor—hinted by Polaris’ D23 cameo—and possibly X-Force, given Cable’s role and Forge’s search for new mutants in Season 1’s finale.

Fans speculate these teams will tackle the chaos of a splintered X-Men roster, scattered across time by that wild Season 1 ending. Havok, Danger, and Apocalypse are also confirmed to appear, promising a roster shake-up.

What Storylines Are Teased for X-Men '97 Season 2?

Season 1’s finale set the stage for epic arcs—and then some got axed. DeMayo’s vision included Onslaught (a Xavier-Magneto psionic mashup) and the dystopian Age of Apocalypse, but he says Marvel ditched them post-firing. What’s left?

Expect resolution to the time-travel cliffhanger—Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Magneto in Ancient Egypt; Jean, Cyclops, and Xavier in the future; and Storm, Wolverine, and Morph in the present. Apocalypse’s rise, teased with Gambit as a potential Horseman, plus Magneto’s courtroom scene and Grant Morrison-era suits (per Cosmic Marvel), signal a bold evolution.

How Are Fans Reacting to the Delay and Drama?

The X-Men faithful are split. Posts on X show disappointment over the 2026 wait—“a mess” after DeMayo’s exit, one fan warned—while others buzz about new teams and suits. Jennifer Hale (Jean Grey) teased “Buckle up” in September 2024 (ComicBook), fueling excitement despite the turmoil. The absence of X-Men '97 from Marvel’s 2025 slate video in November 2024 only stoked the fire, with some fearing quality dips, others trusting Marvel’s animation magic. It’s a mutant melodrama playing out online and off.

Will X-Men '97 Season 2 Live Up to Season 1’s Hype?

Season 1 was a critical darling, snagging an Emmy nod and a ComicBook Golden Issue Award. Season 2’s challenge is steep: deliver on sky-high expectations amid a creative shakeup. Winderbaum’s passion—“I can’t believe they let me make it”—suggests commitment, but DeMayo’s claims of meddling (like Storm’s “eviscerated” story) raise red flags. With X-Factor, X-Force, and Apocalypse in play, the potential for a bigger, bolder season is there—if Marvel sticks the landing.

The wait for X-Men '97 Season 2 may test our patience, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. New teams, iconic villains, and a fractured timeline promise a mutant saga worth rooting for, even as backstage chaos leaves us wary. Will it soar like Season 1 or stumble under controversy? We’ll find out in 2026.

Until then, rewatch Season 1 on Disney+, speculate in the comments section down below, and keep your mutant senses sharp—because this X-Men revival is far from done surprising us.

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