Larry Houston, the Emmy-nominated producer who helmed the original X-Men animated series, gave a positive review of the third season of X-Men '97, which directly addresses one of the major concerns surrounding the show's return. Fans waited just over two years for new episodes after the first season concluded in May 2024, a delay long enough to dampen the excitement surrounding the revival. With just a few days left until the July 1st premiere of season two, the question arises: what happens next? Will it take the same amount of time to continue the story in the next chapter?
In an interview with The Direct ahead of the premiere of X-Men '97's second season, Larry Houston revealed that he is currently hard at work on season three and reassured anyone who fears a drop in quality, telling fans: "« Trust me, as a fan, you're going to enjoy it.". More relief came when the release date was discussed. Houston dismissed the notion that the third and fourth seasons would be as challenging for viewers as the previous one, confirming that the gap between the second and third seasons of X-Men '97 would be shorter than the gap between the first and second seasons; «"They learned their lessons.".
«"Luckily, the production issues won't happen again. There was a huge gap between the first and second seasons. They learned their lessons, so it won't happen again in the third and fourth seasons... It was an isolated incident.".
Huston's word carries weight here, given his long history with these characters. The man who oversaw the original cartoon is now informing viewers that the most challenging part of launching the revival is behind them. For fans who had almost given up on seeing a second season, this reassurance from someone who has been involved with the series from the very beginning should allay any fears of future delays.
Houston isn't the only one promising to speed up the process. Brad Winderbaum, head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios, confirmed that season three is already in production and pointed to an annual release plan as the studio's goal for the series going forward.
The second season of X-Men '97 will premiere on Disney+ on July 1, with the first three episodes airing simultaneously and the final six released weekly. The nine-episode season picks up after the season one finale, which saw the team scattered through time, stranding Cyclops and Jean Grey in the distant future while Rogue, Beast, Nightcrawler, Charles Xavier, and Magneto find themselves in Ancient Egypt. Their attempts to regroup and find a way home lead them into the orbit of En Sabah Nur, an immortal mutant conqueror.
Could X-Men '97's annual revamp make it one of Marvel's best shows?
The most interesting thing about Marvel Studios' plans is how the annual airing cycle could impact the long-term success of X-Men '97. The success or failure of a TV show depends on inertia, and more frequent breaks between seasons help retain viewers. In an age where people's attention spans fray, long gaps between seasons negatively impact audience retention. By following a third season, viewers can savor the cliffhanger before it's over, rather than dwelling on the memories of who ended up where.
The annual release will set X-Men '97 apart from other Marvel series. Marvel Studios has released numerous series since 2021, but few last multiple seasons, and even fewer hold viewers' attention when there are long waits between seasons. X-Men '97 is already very popular thanks to the success of its first season and the nostalgic feel of the original series. Add to that the rapid release of episodes, and you get something that most closely resembles an old-school cartoon that people plan to watch all week.
With a fourth season already greenlit and a fifth in discussion, a steady stream of releases could sustain interest in X-Men for years to come, rather than allowing it to wane between episodes. Long delays are how good shows gradually lose their audience. If Houston is correct in asserting that the agonizing wait was a one-time issue, then the revival has a real chance of becoming one of Marvel Studios' best series, as it will retain its core audience for years to come.