X-MEN ’97 Season 2 Promo Art Unleashes X-Force, X-Factor, and a New Future for The Mutants
A new batch of promo art for X-Men '97 just dropped, and it’s loaded with reveals that give fans a much clearer idea of where Season 2 is headed. Between fractured timelines, new team formations, and a surprising evolution of the X-Men brand itself, this next chapter is shaping up to go big in every direction.
The newly surfaced artwork pulls back the curtain on two very different eras the team is stuck in. When we last left these characters, things weren’t exactly stable.
Cyclops and Jean Grey found themselves stranded in a bleak 3960 A.D., while Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Professor X, and Magneto were dealing with Ancient Egypt in 3000 B.C., crossing paths with En Sabah Nur. Now we’re seeing how those timelines are shaping them, complete with updated looks that reflect where they’ve landed.
It’s not just those two groups either. The promo art confirms that Wolverine, Storm, and Morph are also stuck in the future, which adds another layer to how split up this team really is. That absence in the present day doesn’t go unnoticed, and it seems to open the door for entirely new mutant squads to rise up.
The art also gives us our first proper look at X-Force and X-Factor stepping into the spotlight. X-Force brings together Cable, Archangel, Psylocke, Sunspot, and Jubilee, which is a lineup that feels primed for action-heavy missions.
Meanwhile, X-Factor is made up of Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Multiple Man, and Val Cooper, suggesting a very different dynamic, likely tied to government oversight and mutant affairs.
Then there’s the biggest twist of the bunch. X-Corp. The promo art reveals a team wearing uniforms inspired by New X-Men by Grant Morrison, which hints at a major shift in how the X-Men operate once they make it back home.
Instead of just being a superhero team, this version of X-Corp suggests something more structured, possibly corporate, and definitely different from what longtime fans are used to.
Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television and Animation, has already hinted that the future of the series stretches far beyond Season 2.
"There is definitely, more than possibly, more to come from X-Men '97. We're talking about Seasons 4 and 5 now,"
That kind of long-term planning is exciting, but it also comes with a bit of uncertainty. There have been rumors, sparked by former showrunner Beau DeMayo, that Kevin Feige may have had concerns about the show overshadowing the upcoming live-action X-Men reboot.
Whether there’s any truth to that is still unclear, but if there is, it could influence how far this animated revival ultimately goes.
What isn’t up for debate is how well Season 1 landed. The return of X-Men: The Animated Series era storytelling struck a chord with fans and managed to live up to the original in a way that few revivals do.
DeMayo played a big role in shaping Season 2, so the real test will come with Season 3, when the show moves forward without his direct influence.
Taking over as showrunner is Matthew Chauncey, known for his work on What If...?. That shift has made some fans a little cautious, given that series had a mixed reception, but it also opens the door for a fresh creative direction.
The series continues to bring together a strong voice cast, including Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, J. P. Karliak, Lenore Zann, George Buza, A. J. LoCascio, Holly Chou, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Matthew Waterson, Ross Marquand, and Adrian Hough.
With multiple timelines, new teams stepping in, and a reimagined future for the X-Men brand, Season 2 looks like it’s going to expand this world in a big way. X-Men '97 returns this summer on Disney+.
