After nearly 30 years, mutants are returning in X-Men ’97, a continuation of the beloved animated series from the mid-90s. The X-Men are some of the most popular characters in the entire Marvel catalog, and the anticipation for their return has reached a fever pitch.
This is Marvel Studios’ first TV series on Disney+ in 2024, and the Agents of Fandom sat down with Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation Brad Winderbaum to discuss the Marvel animated series.
Marvel Studios Head of TV Talks Expanded Roles for Both Jubilee and Morph in ‘X-Men ’97′
When speaking with TJ Zwarych of Agents of Fandom, Marvel Studios Head of Television Brad Winderbaum talked about the roles Jubilee (Holly Chou) and Morph (JP Karliak) will play in the upcoming series, X-Men ’97:
“I have to call out, especially in X-Men ’97, both Morph and Jubilee as being two characters that really get their due. They did in the OG series as well, but they certainly do in X-Men ’97.”
— Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation Brad Winderbaum when asked about his favorite X-Men characters
This is an exciting promise, given Jubilee has been criminally underutilized in live-action and comics since the original animated series. Although Morph was a brand new character in X-Men: The Animated Series, he had very little screen time throughout.
With a team full of heroes like the X-Men, it’s nearly impossible to give everyone the shine they deserve, but extra screen time for Jubilee and Morph is long overdue. Both characters are noticeably missing from many of the most famous issues of X-Men comic books, and they’ll get the chance to shine in Marvel Studios X-Men ’97.
Is ‘X-Men ’97’ Canon to the MCU?
With mutants appearing in recent Marvel projects, the anticipation for the debut of the X-Men in the MCU couldn’t be higher. Former executive producer and showrunner Beau DeMayo revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post that the show does not take place in the MCU, so official confirmation of the X-Men on Earth-616 will have to wait.
The combination of classic storytelling from the original X-Men: The Animated Series paired with modern visuals and connections leaves X-Men ’97 with the potential to be one of Marvel’s best projects in the post-Endgame era.
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