WMG / X-Men '97

With Dust and Nature Girl making cameo appearances in the trailer despite being created long after the original show ended, this opens the door for other characters who either debuted after the show's finale, did appear in the original but didn't play a huge role, or were created before the show yet didn't appear at all. These include:

• X-23
• Deadpool (had many nonspeaking cameos in the original show before he would become the fourth wall-breaking Heroic Comedic Sociopath we know and love him as. Naturally, an episode featuring him would involve him talking to the audience and getting on everybody's nerves)
• Darwin
• Thunderbird (either John Proudstar or Neal Shara)
• Hope Summers
• Omega Sentinel
• Lifeguard
• Slipstream
• Kitty Pryde
  • As a reference to how Jubilee effectively served as a replacement for Kitty as the Audience Surrogate in the original show, the two will become friends in this series.
• Kamala Khan (given she is being retconned as a mutant in the comics and portrayed as such in the MCU)
• Lockheed
• Tempus
• Goldballs
  • Goldballs/Egg does get a meta reference from Jubilee when wondering what Roberto Da Costa's powers are. She jokes about it possibly being firing gold balls from his chest, which is what Egg's powers are.
• Rachel Grey/Summers
• Daken
• Azazel
• Emplate
• Black Tom
• Destiny
• Legion
• Blindfold
• Apocalypse Twins
• Xandra
• Namor
• The X-Babies
• Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl (returning to her mutant origins)
• Mariko Yashida - apparently decomposited from Yuriko, but still connected as she unknowingly funded the procedure to turn Yuriko into Lady Deathstrike
• Dog Logan - Introduced as Wolverine's childhood friend during the Origin series in the 1800s. He might get ahold of one of Cable's or Bishop's time-travel devices somehow. Maybe Logan and Cable or Bishop will accidentally go back in time and meet Dog.

Despite his death at the beginning of the series, Xavier will cheat death once again.

• His death will be rendered a Disney Death (which is funny, considering Disney now owns Marvel)
• Xavier will transfer his soul into another body (such as a clone).
• Time Travel will either undo his death or his past self will travel to the present.
• A parallel universe version of Xavier will appear.
  • This WMG makes no sense - as shown in the final episode of the 1992 show, he's not dead at all, the world just thinks he is. He's actually off-world and can't come home.
    • Xavier has been declared "Presumed Dead" by Earth in the Series Premiere. His fate is currently left unclear.
• Theory ultimately Jossed in Episode 6, as Xavier is still Alive.

James has cast been in undisclosed role for the show, with said role being teased as a "Fan Favorite"

• Deadpool
• Quicksilver
• Colossus
• Sebastain Shaw
  • Jossed. Shaw is now voiced by Todd Haberkorn.
• Bolivar Trask
  • Jossed. Trask is now voiced by Gavin Hammond.
• Iceman
• Archangel
• Mojo
  • Jossed. Mojo is now voiced by David Errigo Jr.
• Pyro
• Sabertooth
• Spider-Man
• Legion
• Joseph
• Captain Britain
• Daken
• Azazel
• Emplate
• Black Tom
• Omega Red
• Young Xavier circa One Man's Worth
• The X-Cutioner
  • Jossed. Lawrence Bayne will voice The X-Cutioner.
• Apocalypse
• Bastion
  • Confirmed.
• Captain America

One of the unresolved plot lines from original series, had Danvers remain in a coma, after Rogue absorbs her powers. In the sequel series, Danvers awakens from her coma, gains her powers back, and joins the X-Men officially.

Another cliffhanger from the original series had Apocalypse resurrecting himself by using Fabian Cortez as a host. Obviously, he will desire revenge upon the X-Men. Given how Magneto has inherited the Xavier Institute in light of Professor X's passing, it could even set-up an Age of Apocalypse storyline.

• Seconding this. When I heard that the 90s animated series was being given a sequel this was literally the first thing that came to my mind. While my memory of the original series is a bit fuzzy at this point, this above everything else is what I remember as far as unresolved plot threads go.
• The second episode teases this somewhat; while Apocalypse doesn't actually appear, Wolverine very briefly thinks he may have.
• Apocalypse makes a brief cameo in the opening credits for "Bright Eyes", which adds fuel to the theory.
• Confirmed, Apocalypse appears in The Stinger of the season 1 finale, in the ruins of Genosha.

Because this universe has featured other Marvel characters (Spider-Man, Captain America, The Punisher), there is a possibility that a non-mutant related character will make a surprise appearance.

• Spider-Man
  • A Daily Bugle newspaper is seen briefly in the Series Premiere, with Spider-Man being referenced on the front page.
  • Confirmed, with him appearing in a cameo in Episode 8.
• Dr. Strange
  • Confirmed
• Iron Man
  • Confirmed
• Captain America
  • Confirmed as he appears in "Bright Eyes" trying to calm Rogue down.
• The Watcher (who will loosely connect the show back to the MCU)
  • Confirmed. The Watcher can be seen briefly in the background of Episode 5.
• Black Widow
• The Guardians of the Galaxy
• The Incredible Hulk (who could possibly have a fight against Wolverine as a nod to the latter's first appearance)
• The Fantastic Four
• Black Panther
  • Confirmed, albeit T'Chaka as Black Panther
• Thor
• Daredevil
  • Confirmed.
• Jessica Jones
• Namor
• J. Jonah Jameson.
• Bucky Barnes
• Sam Wilson
• Crossover Characters Appearances for Season 1: The Watcher, Thunderbolt Ross, Captain America, Spider-Man & MJ, Dr Doom, Helmut Zemo, Black Panther (King T'Chaka) Iron Man, Daredevil, Cloak & Dagger, Dr Strange, Flash Thompson.

While the original animated series predates the MCU by 16 years, X-Men '97 will still crossover into the MCU, much like how Spider-Man: No Way Home retconned Tobey Maguire's and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man Universes into the MCU as part of the multiverse.

• It’s possible that this incarnation of Wolverine will be the one Deadpool encounters in Deadpool & Wolverine.
• Failing that, it could connect to another Marvel continuity, such as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023), Big Hero 6, or one of the variant timelines in What If…? (2021).
  • In fact, there could be a crossover with the latter, and this could make way for an Exiles spin-off.
  • Possibly confirmed. We see a faint silhouette of Uatu the Watcher in the sky above Genosha in "Remember It" as the gala begins. Though it's currently unknown if this is the same Uatu from What If?.

Instead of obscuring the war, they'll be blunt and say he's a Holocaust survivor. It won't be as much a retcon, more a clarification.

• Not quite, at least yet, but episode two has gone somewhat towards this direction by having Magneto claim his people were targeted for "calling God by a different name," at least indicating religious persecution involved.
• Semi-confirmed in Episode 8, where Magneto's incarceration tattoo can be seen.
• Continued into Episode 9, where Magneto recalls World War II.

• Rachel Grey/Summers
• Cable
• Hope Summers
• Nate Grey
• New character
  • It's Nathan Summers, his name is mentioned in episode 2. Cable confirmed!

Like the original series, the show will fast foward to the future. But this time, it will fast foward to modern times (2024). By then, the X-Men will have a different line up. An Adult Jubilee will be now be considered one of the veteran members, while several members will be written out or considering retirement (like Jean and Cyclops). Wolverine will still be part of the team, but his future version now resembles his "Old Man Logan" look

• The "Modern Future" may also depict dates up to 2026, to align with the current MCU timeline.

Much like the original premiere episode, the show will (seemingly) kill off a member of the X-Men, early in it's run. While Xavier's passing could apply to this, it could also be a Red Herring to throw viewers off. It also applies to villains as well. A case of Make Way for the New Villains could occur, with a new villain easily taking out one of the show's original foes.

• Confirmed. Gyrich is killed by the new villian, Bastion.

• Ep 2 may have just pulled this off in a way, as Storm loses her mutant powers after taking the shot meant for Magneto, and she leaves the X-Men at the end of the episode.
• Seemingly Confirmed in Episode's 5 Sentinels attack in Genosha. The attack causes the deaths of Gambit, Leech, Callisto, Dazzler, Madelyne, and Sebastain Shaw

• Morph briefly changes into Pietro in "Bright Eyes".
• Episode 9 features cameos of both characters. When Magneto is having his mind controlled, Wanda, Pietro and surprisingly Polaris are seen on boat with Rogue. Later, a chart of the whereabouts of X-Men members has Pietro and Wanda listed as "Off World", possibly searching for Magneto or fighting against the Shi'ar.

In this universe, The Avengers will be more morally grey and will oppose the X-Men for it's secretive vigilante operations. The Avengers in this universe will be run by either the US Government or the United Nations.

• If one is going by all the sort of linked 90's shows, the Avengers already exist, they just never got a cartoon. They also appeared in one of the alternate timeline episodes of X-men proper.
  • Captain America appears in "Bright Eyes" and mentions "his team", hinting that the Avengers already exist.
  • Partially Confirmed, with Avengers assisting the Government during "Tolerance is Extinction".

With Kilgrave appearing during the original series, this could lead to Jessica Jones appearing in the sequel series, but as her superhero persona, Jewel. Because the series takes place in the 90s, Jessica could be depicted as teenage superhero, versus how she is depicted as an adult Private Investigator.

Jessica's story arc will take a dramatic departure from her comic book background, where she is rescued from Kilgrave's control by the X-Men (which would keep her plotline family friendly). Jessica is accepted as part of the team (despite being classified as "mutate", instead of mutant) and eventually befriends a reawakened Carol Danvers.

• In addition, Kilgrave will now be voiced by David Tennant instead of Cedric Smith.

Not a full team-up or even appearance, just a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of him reacting to something next to Mary Jane Watson, confirming that they got their happy ending. Perhaps a young Mayday is with them?

• Alternatively, it'll show that he hasn't found MJ yet... setting up an appearance from him in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse that finally resolves the storyline.
• A Daily Bugle newspaper is seen briefly in the Series Premiere, with Peter Parker being referenced on the front page.
  • Confirmed, with him making a cameo in Episode 8 (as Spider-Man) and in Episode 10 as Peter Parker, the latter of which accurately matches up with the Original theory.

In the comics, Havok is the brother to Cyclops. However, it is never acknowledged in the original series. The sequel series will confirm that Scott and Alex are secretly brothers. Not only that, but Gabriel Summers will also be retconned into the sequel series, as the third offspring of Corsair.

• Partially Confirmed. Vulcan/Gabriel appears in Episode 6, confirming his presence in this universe.

Bobby's break-up with Lorna will be retconned, with Bobby's secret attraction to men being one of the reasons their relationship dissolved. Lorna moved on, as she knows Bobby's true feelings. And she eventually encourages him to come out.

With Morph now being viewed as non-binary in the sequel series, it will be revealed that he views his friendship with Wolverine as "more than just buddies". However much to Morph's disappointment, Logan will tell Morph that he only views them as close friends.

• Episode 3 features a lingering shot of Morph looking at what he thinks is Wolverine in the shower....
• Partially Confirmed in the Season 1 finale, with Morph declaring their love to Wolverine, with Morph taking the form of Jean Grey.

After Carol Danvers reawakens from her coma, as speculated above, she'll drop her old codename and take up Captain Marvel in its place. Kamala, looking to her as a role model, will begin her own hero career by taking the old codename up as her own.

• Kitty starts out looking like she did in Pryde of the X-Men, then gets the suit from X-Men: Evolution before they go with her comics design
• Apparently the team had a past mission in Australia that Wolverine is reluctant to talk about.

While the original animated series clearly had Betsy as Psylocke, if this troper remembers correctly, she is never mentioned by name. And in recent years, Marvel seems to consider the body swap as a mistake, so they'll likely try to erase it from this continuity by having Kwannon being Psylocke. If Betsy Braddock somehow also makes it to X-Men '97, she'll appear as either Captain Britain or as Revanche.

• She mentioned her Brother so it's likely Betsy
• Psylocke makes a cameo in finale, but the series doesn't specify which version of her it is.

---

The Wham Shot is a misdirect meant to sew paranoia in the X-Men.

• Jossed. She's the original.

Storm losing her powers is based on issue #185 of Uncanny X-Men, and she doesn't regain them until Issue #225. She'll most likely regain her powers at the season finale.

• Confirmed, though she gets them back by Episode 6, Lifedeath Part 2.

What follows will be an (partial) adaptation of the twist from What If? (vol. 2) #32-33 instead.

I know she showed up as a young girl, but here she'll have been aged up via Belasco and Limbo's magic.

• Zigzagged. The third episode adapts "Inferno", but Magik only appears in it as a form taken on by Morph.

The New Mutants will come together and form a team. We've seen many of them before:

• Warlock: the two-parter "Phalanx Covenant"
• Wolfsbane: "Cold Comfort" as part of X-Factor.
• Magik: Those episodes with Omega Red and the virus that totally wasn't the legacy virus.
• Cannonball: First as a cameo in "Night of the Sentinels" then formally in "Hidden Agendas."
• Rusty Collins, Boom Boom, Skids, and Rictor: "No Mutant is an Island" as part of the X-Terminators

The domed-room design has been used more often since its introduction in the first live-action film, including in the main comics. '97 may incorporate the newer style of Cerebro into the Earth-92131 continuity by means of an event prompting the destruction of the original Cerebro, with Magneto (possibly with Beast) designing and building a new, upgraded version under the school.

The Goblyn Queen is basically confirmed as a villain but the episode names imply that the season will focus on fighting human supremacists. While they could be two unrelated threats, maybe Madelyne will blame the X-Men for all she goes through and become anti mutant as a result. It would be a parallelism to how some people are radicalized into bigotry after bad experiences and give her a motivation that goes beyond being a Woman Scorned.

• Jossed. They don't factor into the plot of Madelyne's episode at all, and it ends with her leaving to start a new life away from the team's conflicts.
  • Further Jossed in Episode 5, where she relocates to Genosha, to assist in the country's government.

This was another lingering plot thread from the original. The strange imp that trolled Bishop in the Beyond Good & Evil tetralogy that capped off season four was eventually revealed to be Immortus, but nothing was ever done with that.

• Looking more likely in the season finale, with most of the X-Men being stranded in ancient Egypt and meeting a young En Sabah Nur, presumably meaning they could also encounter Immortus' young Rama Tut persona.

The Nasty Boys portal Jean away at the start of the arc, and she's not seen again until she's already in Apocalypse's custody. In the time off-screen between, Mr. Sinister easily could've cloned Jean and given Apocalypse the resulting clone with not even the audience aware of the switch.

• Jean believes in Episode 5 that she was still present during the events of the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga.
• The problem with this theory is that Apocalypse, who was monitoring Mystique and Sabretooth's mission from his headquarters outside of time and so presumably did the same for Sinister, probably would've been able to tell if Sinister had tried to give him a cloned Jean. And Apocalypse isn't the sort of guy to react well to one of his underlings trying to play him for a fool.
• Another opportunity would be during the "Reunion" two-parter at the end of season 2, where Sinister tries to capture the X-Men but only gets away with Jean, giving him the entire flight back to the Savage Land to make the switch.

Replacing Jean with a clone who has all her powers and memories seems like too much effort just for kidnapping a baby. Maybe the switch was necessary for the baby to be born, since Sinister would make sure that the clone he created could have children. It's also implied that Madelyne got pregnant shortly after the switch. The problem with this theory is that Sinister would probably have told Madelyne about it to make her feel worse.

It's because back when she thought she was the original Jean and that she and Scott were going to leave the X-Men, she intended for them to have aliases to use should it become necessary. "Madelyne Pryor" was simply one she particularly liked, and since she hadn't mentioned it yet, it seemed natural to just go with something she already knew she liked well enough.

The Adversary will be adapted to have the shapeshifting/-stealing powers the Dire Wraiths had in the Lifedeath comics. This will tone down the horror factor.

He went to the future with Bishop but the original cartoon establishes that Bishop is from some decades into the future while Cable is from the 3990s, so presumably it will be explained how and why he time-traveled further ahead.

• In the Season 1 finale, a time-displaced Jean and Cyclops in the future meet Nathan as a child.

This will lead to many characters such as Magneto, Gambit and the Morlocks being saved.

• A related possibility is that access to the option will come with knowledge that makes it an ethical quandary — the Genoshan massacre could lead to an upwell in mutant sympathy and a backlash to anti-mutant groups like the Friends of Humanity and murder machines like the Sentinels, ultimately contributing to mutant/non-mutant peace by Bishop's time-period — so the question becomes, do you stop the massacre before it happens and hope that there is another path to the better future, or do you let it stand despite having the opportunity to save so many lives in your near-now?
• In Episode 8, Cable reveals that something is preventing him from altering the timeline. Beast speculates that the event is an "absolute point" in time, citing the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj and using terminology established in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to refer to events which occur across all timelines and can't be changed.

• Jossed for now, Madelyne appears to have died on Genosha.

• Confirmed in "Bright Eyes", where the X-Men uncover the group O.Z.T., which initials imply 'Operation Zero Tolerance'.

There are several hints in the show that, much like the comics, Mystique would assume the real Valerie Cooper's identity for various agendas, whatever they may be here.

• Remember the New Guy? is in full effect, as she is established out the gate to be someone who is well acquainted and storied with Charles Xavier and the X-Men, which while believable on it's own, can be accredited to the fact that Mystique has been long acquainted with them to have a history with them.
• Her sudden fascination and concern with Rogue in the middle of the gala, enough to break her from pressing Magneto's recent ascendancy as the leader of Genosha in regards to his terrorist past when they reveal to her Magneto is taking Rogue as his queen, which is completely out of the blue for someone who's supposed to be at a professional distance with most of the X-Men save Xavier but makes sense for Mystique given her love for Rogue as her adoptive mother.
• Bright Eyes reveals that Valerie Cooper has been declared M.I.A. in Genosha, which may be a hint that Cooper was never actually there...
• Valerie resufaces in "Tolerance is Extinction Part 1", initially appearing to side with Bastion and Mr. Sinister. However, she later breaks Magneto out.
• Valerie is still herself by the end of Season 1.

Their link only works by extreme circumstance though. Madelyne using Cerebro boosted and linked her with Jean in Sinister's lab, reviving her. Then Cable's return caused the psychic flash that connected them again for a second. So if Maddie was killed by the Tri-Sentinel's attack, Jean would have felt her die, meaning Madelyne is still alive.

• Jossed.

She will be a surviving victim of the Tri-Sentinel's massacre of Genosha, who was hideously burned and disfigured during the attack, hence the look. And instead of being out to annihilate mutants, she wants the genocide of everyone involved with creating the Sentinels, along with all their backers and supporters, and everyone only tangentially involved with Sentinel manufacturing.

Yes it would be anticlimatic to kill off a major character offscreen but it's better than having everyone act like Professor X is dead when he's just hanging out in space and could come back anytime. And it adds another layer to Scott's reluctance to send Nathan to the future, he already had to send a loved one away to get medical treatment and it didn't work.

• Jossed. Xavier lives!

He could have forced himself down into the ground. Also, since Leech was nearby, he could have dampened Magneto enough to hide him from the Tri-Sentinel's sensors (Hence the "Omega Level Threat Eliminated")

• After Lifedeath Part 2 - Xavier senses Gambit's death, but not Magneto's, all but confirming Magneto has survived.
• Confirmed. Bastion has kidnapped Magneto.

After his background appearance in "Remember It", The Watcher may be the one to expose this universe to the Multiverse, thus connecting it back to the MCU.

While Xavier may of had good intentions by naming Magneto as the leader, Cyclops will be on bad terms with Xavier over the decision. Because Cyclops had become the de facto leader, he will feel betrayed that Xavier didn't choose him or another X-Men.

• Confirmed.

In a potential plot twist, Xavier will reveal that he never wrote a Will and that Magneto's copy was a fraud. Magneto wrote the Will to better position himself to lead Genosha, similar to how he attempted to lead Asteroid M.

• Jossed. Xavier fully intended Magnus as his successor.

In Episode 6, we see Boliver horrified by what happened in Genosha, revealing he gave his DNA to Sinister for the Master Mold, not realizing he would do that. Most likely Boliver's Heel Realization did stick and the guy we saw in Episode 1 was one of Sinister's clones.

• Possibly Confirmed? The real Trask is found in Madripol, but cybernetically enhanced.

In Spider-Man: The Animated Series (which according to the crossover episodes is in the same canon as the original X-Men series) Captain America was trapped in a matter/antimatter vortex rather than simply frozen in ice (It Makes Sense in Context). But since the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made Cap and his story more widely known since then, that will only be vaguely alluded to at best so as to avoid They Changed It, Now It Sucks!.

• The Red Skull will return as well since he was trapped in the same vortex.
• Confirmed. How Captain America jumped to the future is never acknowledged. His presence is already known by Rogue, meaning the rest of the world knows of his return.
  • He mentions "his team" during his talk with Rogue, possibly hinting of The Avengers.
    • Again, since the show is the same canon as Spider-Man's series, he mentions the Avengers by name in his very first episode (contrary to what some people might think, in the comics the Avengers were actually formed BEFORE Cap was unfrozen)

Gambit and three other characters will die. But Apocalypse will retrieve their bodies and bring them back to life as his new Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Gambit will become Death.

• Confirmed in the Season 1 Finale, with Apocalypse referring to Gambit as "Death".

• While not a major character, we saw Banshee die on Genosha so he could return as a horseman. And, if we assume she's dead, there's also Callisto.
• More than 4 mutants have died so far in Season 1! In addition to the above mentioned, Leech, Dazzler, Madelyne, Sebastain Shaw and Bastion have all died.

• House of M: Being one of the most famous post-90s X-Men storylines, it's entirely likely that this comic could get an adaptation. Likely as either a season finale or a premiere storyline.
• Curse of the Mutants: Should House of M get an adaptation, adapting this storyline would be a logical continuation, given Jubilee's status as a main character in this show and the comic's own heavy focus on her.
• Age of Apocalypse: Another beloved X-Men storyline that just so happened to have been inspired by a storyline from the original series.
• Avengers vs. X-Men: "Bright Eyes" has Captain America allude to "his team" when talking with Rogue, no doubt implying the Avengers have already been assembled by this point in time.
• The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix: Makes sense considering the focus of the show on the Summers family. There could be an episode centered on Scott and Jean, using new identities, raising Nathan in the future. It would give Scott a chance to be a father to his son. And after they get back to the present, Cable could learn who his adopted parents really were.
  • The way the series has adapted the comics' story arcs but with Composite Character replacements again and again, prepare and expect that an adaptation of this one will have others instead of Cyclops and/or Jean sent to the future, which explains Cable's initially cold attitude towards them.

• He'll release footage of Trask's murder, edited to make it seem like a vigilante execution, and frame Rogue for his own murder of Gyrich. Add on her attack against the army base and the facility in Mexico, and Rogue will be seen as the next Magneto.
• Jossed.

• Like the Tesseract, the green energy could be used as not only a destructo-beam but also as teleporting energy, which is how such an enormous monstrosity suddenly seemed to emerge from nowhere (except the green flashes in the distance that Cable spotted) when it attacked Genosha, and it teleported Magneto elsewhere for Bastion to capture alive.

• Similar to how in the comics Sinister created Nathan to defeat Apocalypse, in the show he was meant to be his safeguard and weapon against Bastion. The techno-organic virus would give him the same cybernetic enhancements and powers Bastion has in addition to his own omega level mutant powers. The process being incomplete means that Nathan ended up having to use his psychic powers to keep the virus from killing him instead.
• Implied in the Season 1 finale, where Sinster rallies against Bastion controlling Nathan.

The series will deviate from the comics, by revealing that Madelyne isn't a clone of Jean Grey, but is actually Jean Grey in another form:

• Mr Sinister attempted to replicate Jean Grey into a clone (Madelyne). However, Mr. Sinister actually caused Jean to be mentally spliced into two different bodies. This is why both women have the same memories and share a bond, as they are both Jean!
• Alternatively, Mr. Sinister didn't actually clone Jean Grey, but rather abducted a parallel version of Jean Grey across the multiverse. He then altered her DNA into Madelyne.

• Confirmed. In addition Roberto joined as well.

Magneto's EMP killed thousands but not as many as those killed on Genosha even though an attack like that would kill millions in real life. However this is a world that has killer robots and guns that alter your DNA so it stands to reason that they also have plenty of ways to counteract an EMP and get the power back up quickly.

His powers are supposed to hold back the techno-organic virus so it will start taking over his body. This will allow Jean to enter his mind and free him from Sinister's brainwashing.

• Mixed. Jean appears to be defeated by Cable, but she survives and activates her Phoenix Force power.

He is neither shown without his mask nor referenced by his real name. Like in both comics and MCU the government could have chosen Walker to become the new Cap. That would explain both the apparent Continuity Snarl about him not being in the Vortex and his relative apathy towards the Genosha tragedy, as John is canonically a dick.

• Jossed, it seems, in "Tolerance is Extinction, Part 3", with Captain America appearing to be a Comic-Book Fantasy Casting of Chris Evans.

Much like the original live action films, Magneto will declare war with non-Mutants, and become arrogant over Mutant having a higher classification than Non-Mutants.

• The final trailer for Season 1 has him donning his old armor again.
  • Confirmed, before Season 2 began! Magneto uses his magnetic powers to disrupt electricty of the entire planet.
  • Seemingly Jossed. He ends the season as part of the X-Men.

• Possibly confirmed. The stinger of the "Tolerance is Extinction part 3" shows Apocalypse in the ruins of Genosha. The scenes prior to that, show the X-Men being split up and sent 3000 years into the future and back in the past. With both time periods relating to Apocalypse.
  • The trapped-in-past X-Men team work to prevent En Sabah Nur from becoming Apocalypse the villain. But it turns out that all their actions become Self-Fulfilling Prophecy that Create Your Own Villain instead — they create him.
  • Alternatively, the X-Men causes a change in the timeline, with En Sabah Nur becoming an alternate past version of Apocalypse (similar to the past altering in Avengers: Endgame). En Sabah Nur will be reformed by Xavier and the other X-Men. This will all culminate with the eventual face off of En Sabath Nur fighting against himself as the future Apocalypse.

Other than Gambit, there were many other notable Mutants slain during the attack on Genosha, such as Madelyne, Shaw, Callisto, Leech and Dazzler. Apocalypse could resurrect any of them to become his newest Four Horsemen.

Word of God suggested issues from the "Fatal Attractions" storyline as recommended reading after episode 8. This storyline includes the events which would lead to the creation of Onslaught, when Magneto stripped the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton and Xavier responded by shutting down his mind. With Magneto apparently poised to declare war on humanity as of the end of "Tolerance is Extinction part 1," we may be setting up for a similar incident which will lead into Onslaught appearing as an antagonist in season 2.

• Potentially Confirmed, as Tolerance is Extinction Part 2 ends with Wolverine impaling Magneto, who retaliates back by ripping out Wolverine's adamantium.
  • Now potentially Jossed, as in Tolerance is Extinction Part 3 Magneto is out of his coma, and at least for now he's come around mentally.

As of "Tolerance is Extinction, Part 1", Xavier has finally returned to Earth, Omega Red has been reawakened by Magneto's worldwide EMP, and Illyana Rasputin has become Magik by this point in time. As "Bring Me Charles Xavier" was left an Unfinished Episode due to being Darker and Edgier even by the original show's standards, this could be an opportunity to revive the script for the more mature followup.

Despite Bishop being part of the main roster now, Bishop immediately leaves the team in Episode 3 ("Fire Made Flesh") causing him to become an Advertised Extra and miss most of the season. Because of this, the series will utilize him more in Season 2, to make up for his absence. This would be similar to original series, where Beast was initially regulated to a recurring role in Season 1 (because of his incarceration), but starting in Season 2, Beast began to play a larger role.

• Confirmed: He returns in Tolerance is Extinction Part 3, explaining to Forge that the X-Men have been time-displaced and he's offering his help to get them back.

He will be seen in his father's house barely alive and his mother will show him mercy.

• Partially Confirmed. Creed is mention in a news bulletin in the Season 1 Finale.
• Expanding on this, Graydon might be used to satirize modern-day extremist politicians who shall remain nameless, but maybe saying wildfires are being caused by lasers from Asteroid M.
  • Or the lasers are a mutant aiming their powers at an earthly target.

Similar to the "Quack Pack" episode of DuckTales (2017).

Possible candidates will likely include Colossus, Kitty Pride, and Emma Frost, as well as Jubilee and Roberto.

Based on the above entry, Season 2 will be an adaptation of the post-Outback/Muir Island X-Men era, wherein Forge was one of the players in reassembling the team, the other being Banshee.

Considering X-Men 97 leans heavily on 1990s X-titles as its basis, Apocalypse had two major storylines at the time: Age of Apocalypse (1995) and The Twelve (1999-2000). Ages is more fondly remembered, if not for its completely reworked Marvel Universe. The next season may use Ages as its frame, while also selecting elements from The Twelve.

• Similarly, with everything pointing out to Gambit being revived as the Death Horseman, the series will adapt elements from Blood of Apocalypse (five-part storyline from 2006), while taking cues from Uncanny X-Force (which revolutionized the Apocalypse mythos).

Like the conclusion of X-Men: Days of Future Past, with a twist here of Logan being one of those not knowing of the differences.

Given that part of the team was sent to the past and part to the future…

• The present. They’re just stuck somewhere and need to be rescued. Perhaps they’re imprisoned or somewhere in space.
  • Apocalypse has them and intends to make them into his Horsemen alongside Gambit.
• Beyond their universe, into the MCU or another Marvel continuity.
• In an alternate present, the Age of Apocalypse to be precise.
• The immediate future of 2020s/our present.
• Storm in Asgard at the least, as a reference to her time wielding mjolnir.

In desperation, Sinister will reunite with Apocalypse and have his youth restored in exchange for serving En Sabah Nur again before helping him gather a new team of Horsemen, starting with bringing some victims of the Genosha massacre back to life.

• If they go the resurrection route with Genosha, it will also be an adaptation of Necrosha (2009-2010), but featuring Apocalypse instead of Selene.
• Sinister's return may finally reacknowledge his origin story from the original series, where Sinister interacted with one of Xavier's ancestors.

Vulcan has proven the show is willing to bring in post-'90s characters, and Silver Samurai's brief cameos could be a Chekhov's Gunman setup that they're going back to Laura's original origin of being created by Hydra instead of Weapon X.

• Perhaps she will appear as Lady Deathstrike's child, using stolen DNA from Wolverine and possessing Daken's codename.

The Friend of Humanity leader isn't the only one with his name, as Sabertooth's name in the previous series was Graydon Creed Senior. It's a stretch that he'd be invested in politics, but he could be working with other like-minded mutants and taking advantage of both Kelly's self-destroyed reputation and the X-Men's disappearance to reform America in Mutant favor.

• Alternatively, it's actually Mystique in disguise.

With the show's critical success, it is only natural for Marvel and Disney to capitalize on this by either creating revivals to past animated shows, or making spin-offs within the XtAS universe.

Most notably, Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Both the above start out when Colossus and Cannonball finally meet each other - but for some reason their sisters Iliyana and Paige immediately hate each other.

In addition to Spider-Man tAS, other Marvel cartoons from the 90s have a chance at a revival.

• First up, the Marvel Action Hour and later Marvel Action Universe had its own shared universe between Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, and the Hulk with many gratuitous cameos. However, it was not clear if the events from these shows were canon to X-Men and Spider-Man, and vice versa. With some clever writing or broad strokes, these shows can be refitted into a cohesive universe:
  • The Incredible Hulk (1996) - Hulk and Thunderbolt Ross have been established to be in this universe.
  • Fantastic Four: The Animated Series - The Four teamed up with Spider-Man and Storm during the Secret Wars adaptation. Dr. Doom is a member of OZT and was a major villain in "Secret Wars". Ronan was initially an FF villain before terrorizing other heroes at large. The X-Men themselves even had a quick cameo, as did Captain America.
  • Iron Man - Iron Man (Robert Hays) and War Machine (the late James Avery) teamed up with Spidey against Venom and Carnage. Iron Man would also team up with Spider-Man and the X-Men in "Secret Wars".
• Silver Surfer: Considering that show ended on a Cliffhanger and eight episodes for a planned second season were written before the show was cancelled, this could definitely use some kind of follow-up.
• Spider-Man Unlimited: Similar to Silver Surfer, this show also ended on a Cliffhanger and a few episodes for a possible second season were written before cancellation. Bonus points if a revival becomes connected to that Spider-Man's cameo appearance in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
• The Avengers: United They Stand: Same as the above two, minus the cliffhanger ending. However, one of those planned season 2 episodes was to feature the X-Men with the same cast from their series reprising their roles, though it's unknown whether it would've actually been a crossover between the two shows.

The season finale had quite a cameo fest which paves the road to potential spin-offs, limited series, prequels, or even standalone pilots like Pryde of the X-men set within this universe. In addition to the hypothetical revivals above:

• A miniseries featuring Black Cat, Blade, and Morbius as a Power Trio during their adventures hunting vampires.
• A prequel with Captain America and his WWII team during their prime.
• A Defenders cartoon with the classic line-up of Strange, Hulk, and Namor.
• An Alpha Flight series; Marvel has been known to capitalize on lesser-known heroes.
• A First Class prequel with teen Scott, Jean, Hank, Warren and Bobby.

The continuity of the series has established that they're familiar with time travel and alternate futures. But they all haven't yet become aware of the Multiverse during the '97 setting, except in theory.

• As an added bonus, Spider-Man will be the one to tell everyone about the Multiverse, since he was the one to save it from Spider-Carnage at the end of his show.

If X-Men '97 goes by Disney's usual practice of ending a series at 4 seasons at the most, then the final season could be set 4 years later in 2001, ending with September 11th happening.