Marvel Confirms X-Men 97 and Live-Action Film Can Run Side-by-Side
When Marvel Studios announced that its animated revival X‑Men ’97 would keep running alongside a fresh live‑action film, it silenced a quiet debate about the franchise’s future.
The announcement came during a panel at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television and Animation, explained that the two projects can coexist. He compared the situation to Spider‑Man, noting that the character appears in multiple formats—including a live‑action series, a preschool show, and the Spider‑Verse movies—and that X‑Men could follow a similar model.
X‑Men ’97 premiered on Disney+ on March 20, 2024, as the first X‑Men project from Marvel Studios since the company regained the characters’ film and television rights following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. The series is a direct revival of the 1992‑1997 X‑Men: The Animated Series and picks up the story after the death of Professor Charles Xavier. The show has received strong reviews and a robust fan response, leading Marvel to renew it through a third season and greenlight a fourth. The second season, consisting of nine episodes, is scheduled to premiere on July 1, 2026, and additional episodes are already in production.
The live‑action reboot is a separate creative effort. It will be directed by Jake Schreier, known for Thunderbolts, and is based on a script by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has described the film as a youth‑focused take on the mutants. No cast has been announced, and a release date has not yet been set; the studio expects the movie to arrive after the next two Avengers films.
During the same panel, Winderbaum emphasized that the animation’s serialized, soap‑opera style contrasts with the expected cinematic approach of the film, and that the two projects may generate healthy creative competition. The animation’s voice cast retains many original actors from the 1990s series, giving long‑time fans a sense of continuity, while the live‑action film will start fresh with a new cast and a different tone.
The X‑Men franchise had been largely dormant after Fox closed its series in 2020, with the mutants appearing only in guest roles in other Marvel properties. X‑Men ’97 has re‑established the team on a dedicated platform, bringing the characters back into the spotlight. The live‑action film will provide a new entry point for audiences who prefer the big‑screen experience.
At present, X‑Men ’97 remains in production with a confirmed second‑season release date and plans for additional seasons. The live‑action film is in development, with no cast or release date announced. Marvel Studios has stated that both the animated series and the live‑action movie will continue to run concurrently, giving audiences multiple ways to engage with the X‑Men universe.
