X-Men '97 season 3 could arrive sooner than you think. The third season of Marvel's animated revival is currently scheduled to release in 2027, and seasons 4 is already confirmed as well. With a certain telekinetic mutant having just made her deubt in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it's a great time to be an X-Men fan.
X-Men '97 season 2 went back to the very beginning, depicting how first mutant Apocalypse became a time-travelling tyrant hell-bent on wiping out the X-Men. Season 3 can't possibly get (much) bigger than that. But the addition of a long-awaited, blue-skinned shapeshifter has put season 3 near the top of our most anticipated list, even if the show sits outside of MCU continuity on the list of upcoming Marvel movies and shows.
Below, you'll find everything we currently know about X-Men '97 season 3, including release date speculation, educated plot theories, cast we expect to return, and more. Season 2 spoilers follow, so make sure you're up to speed before reading on. For the full deep-dive, check out our X-Men '97 season 2 ending explained.
X-Men '97 season 3 release date speculation
X-Men '97 season 3 will release in 2027, according to Marvel Studios Head of TV and Streaming Brad Winderbaum, who confirmed the (wide) release window to Collider just ahead of the season 2 finale. At the same time, Winderbaum also revealed that season 4 will follow one year later in 2028, making the two-year wait between seasons 1 and 2 a thing of the past.
Producer Larry Houston previously claimed that the two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2 wouldn't happen again, as the production problems that caused the delay were a "one-off," backing up Winderbaum's release plan. For now, we don't have a more specific date than next year, but don't be surprised if it debuts in the summer.
Is there an X-Men '97 season 2 trailer?
There is no X-Men '97 season 3 trailer just yet, though given that Marvel Studios Animation is no doubt deep into production on season 3, it's possible we may get a glimpse of the upcoming season sooner than later.
The trailer for X-Men '97 season 2 was first shown behind closed doors at New York Comic Con in October 2025, but wasn't released online until May 2026, over 7 months later. If Marvel follows the same schedule, we could have a bit of a wait on our hands for the trailer.
X-Men '97 season 3 plot speculation
While there are no official plot details about X-Men '97 season 3, we can make an educated guess about what might happen following the season 2 finale and that exciting X-Men '97 season 2 post-credits scene.
X-Men '97 season 2 ends with Apocalypse defeated, Gambit back in the land of the living, and even Rogue safe and sound, despite making a deal with a Celestial to exchange her life for Remy's. Turns out there has been a sacrifice – Nightcrawler paid the life debt, and is revealed to have died so that Rogue may live. *sniff*
The fallout of this sacrifice will no doubt figure into season 3. But far more significant in terms of future setup is the X-Men '97 season 2 post-credits scene. In her office, X-Factor operator Val Cooper is watching Graydon Creed being sworn in as president. Given he ran on an anti-mutant platform, this doesn't bode well. Only, this isn't Val; it's Mystique in disguise, who it's revealed has killed the high-ranking official. Again, this does not bode well. As Mystique flips through her file, it reads "Mystique determined to attack the US." "I'll say," quips Mystique in response. Needless to say, US soil isn't safe with Mystique on the loose.
As for the rest of the X-Men, Cyclops and Jean still have unresolved issues with their now grown-up son, Nathan (aka. Cable), particularly after he betrayed the X-Men in order to take down Remy-Apocalypse. There's also the small matter of X-Force still working to round up mutants that the government takes against. Charles may have exploited a loophole and relocated the X-Men to a rebuilt Genosha in the form of X-Corp, but this arrangement clearly doesn't have a long-term future following the attack on the X-Corp building by X-Factor in the season 2 finale, and the small matter of Mystique secretly replacing Val...
X-Men '97 season 3 cast
X-Men '97 is a show that loves to kill off beloved characters, so there are some major mutants we're not expecting to return in season 3. Though given that Gambit is now alive and kicking after being bumped off in season 1, and that time travel is an everyday occurrence, a miraculous resurrection is never out of the question.
We'd expect new characters to be introduced in future episodes, but here's where the season 3 cast stands, based on who survives season 2:
- Ray Chase as Scott Summers / Cyclops
- Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey / Phoenix
- Ross Marquand – Professor Charles Xavier
- Allison Sealy-Smith as Ororo Munroe / Storm
- Cal Dodd as Logan / Wolverine
- J.P. Karliak as Morph
- Lenore Zann as Rogue
- George Buza as Beast
- A.J. LoCascio as Remy LeBeau / Gambit
- Holly Chou as Jubilee
- Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop
- Gui Agustini as Sunspot
- Chris Potter as Nathan Summers / Cable
- Gates McFadden as Rachel Summers / Mother Askani
- Catherine Disher as Valerie Cooper
- Mystique
X-Men '97 is streaming now on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the X-Men movies in order.
