Fox's X-Men: The Animated Series is being rebooted on Disney+, with Marvel and Disney commissioning the show X-Men '97, but is it connected to the MCU? Marvel regained the film and TV rights to the X-Men when Disney acquired most of Fox's film and TV empire, and it's only a matter of time before mutants join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For all that's the case, though, Marvel don't exactly seem to be in a hurry; although they've avoided some former Fox properties into their shared cinematic universe, they've been content to work with what they're referring to as "non-marquee" characters and concepts. To date, the most prominent MCU debut of an X-Men idea was in The Falcon & the Winter Soldier, when the titular heroes traveled to the fictional island of Madripoor.

Marvel Studios is expanding its animation department after the success of What If...?, and as a result on Disney+ Day 2021 X-Men fans finally received word of their favorite mutants. An X-Men: The Animated Series relaunch is coming to Disney+ in 2023, bringing back members of the original voice cast including Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith, and Alyson Court. The classic '90s series is still considered one of the best superhero animated shows of all time, fondly remembered for its tremendous theme tune, and the news is certainly welcome.

Related: Every X-Men Reference & Easter Egg In The MCU So Far

According to Disney, X-Men '97 is a continuation of the original animated series, not part of the MCU. It's set in a universe of its own, where mutants are commonplace and anti-mutant prejudice is rife; it's technically in the same world as Spider-Man: The Animated Series as well, meaning countless other superheroes exist - ranging from Doctor Strange to Captain America, from the Fantastic Four to Iron Man. In narrative terms, X-Men '97 will be the first Marvel Studios production not to be canon to the MCU, but rather set in another continuity.

X-Men Animated Series Graduation Day

The first few seasons of X-Men: The Animated Series firmly established the mutants' place in popular culture, but unfortunately the X-Men show declined as it went on, largely because different animation houses got involved. While Marvel is sure to want to recall the spirit of those first seasons, hopefully the animation will get an upgrade for the present day, much as Disney's Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 looked visually more impressive than those produced under George Lucas.

X-Men: The Animated Series ended with the episode "Graduation Day," with Professor X transported offworld by his beloved Lilandra after he was almost killed by anti-mutant fanatic Henry Gyrich. The story of X-Men: The Animated Series was originally continued in a comic book series, X-Men '92, by Chad Bowers, Chris Sims, and Alti Firmansyah. No doubt the Marvel Studios version of X-Men will take a similar approach, adopting the countless comic book adventures that have been published since the animated show ended. It will be particularly exciting to see if Marvel Studios choose to adapt Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch, which introduced a bold new status quo for the X-Men.

More: Every Upcoming Marvel Studios Disney+ TV Show

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