By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Disney just released a summer surprise for fans: the trailer for the second season of X-Men '97. In fact, it is completely visible terriblewith plenty of killer action sequences and fan-favorite comedic plot twists. The first season of the show was Marvel's best project in years, and this trailer proves that this was no mistake. X-Men '97 Season 2 looks like it will deliver more than what audiences have been waiting for, and Disney has revealed that Seasons 3 and 4 are already in production and that we will be getting a new season of this annual animated series in the next few years.
For fans of Marvel's merry band of mutants, this is everything we expected to hear and then some. But this is one situation where we might get something really good. Why is that? As I have written before, X-Men '97 it's so good that it sets completely unrealistic expectations for future Marvel projects. Between the show's incredible writing and its seamless integration of amazing comic storylines, one thing is clear: the upcoming live-action X-Men movie will be big disappointment, and that might be enough to fully stop the momentum the MCU has been trying so hard to regain.
The X-Men Movie: What We Know
Right now, we only know a few details about the upcoming X-Men movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will be directed by Jake Schreier, the same man who brought us Thunder Lights. In theory, that's good news. Thunder Lights it was a highly acclaimed film, with strong interactions between its eclectic cast, and one that should serve Schreier well when directing an X-Men film. In addition, MCU artist Kevin Feige told CBR that he thinks the director “has a heart that touches … This is important “because X-Men, as it was in the comics, will be a very youth-oriented, focused, and character-driven film.”
Other than that, very little is known. The MCU X-Men movie does not have a release date, although we know it will be released after that Avengers: Doomsday again Avengers: Secret Wars Get out. This is because the final film will be rebooting this cinematic universe, which will probably explain why mutants are now a major force in the MCU. It's no secret that Feige wants these changes to be the new core of this rebooted universe. Unfortunately, that plan may have already been revealed due to the continued success of the X-Men '97!
Send Tones
There is a famous proverb (often attributed to Teddy Roosevelt) that says, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The explanation is quite simple: it's hard to be happy with something you would like if you already have something else to compare it to. Instead of nothing, the X-Men MCU film is likely to be a hit, especially if (and this is not really a big obstacle) it is better than other films based on the same team. Forever again Fantastic Four: First Steps. But when the band makes its first official live performance, fans will definitely start comparing it to them X-Men '97and that's not going to sit well with Kevin Feige.
Obviously, X-Men '97 it's a great show on its own. It has world-class writing, killer lore, and some of the best character chemistry to grace superhero television. But part of why it's been so successful is that this dynamic franchise has been hit or miss over the years. The first two 20th Century Fox films were great, but the third was an unmitigated disaster. The same thing happens when a studio reboots a universe (sort of): X-Men: First Class again Days of Future Past it was a blockbuster success, but X-Men: Apocalypse there was great disappointment, too The dark phoenix it was so the bad thing is that most who have watched it have spent years trying to get the taste out of their mouths.
The MCU apocalypse is here
After that final cinematic failure, X-Men fans' expectations came crashing down. So, it was very easy X-Men '97 to blow us up completely. But by the time the MCU X-Men movie comes out, fans will have enjoyed it at least four seasons of this hit animated series, plus Deadpool and Wolverine. At that time, their hopes will be gone the roofand if the X-Men movie is less than brilliant, it will be rejected by fans and a box office bomb. If that happens, then Kevin Feige's last, desperate plans to rekindle interest in the MCU will fail along with the film.
As a lifelong X-Men fan, this is one of those times where I really hope I'm wrong. With any luck, the X-Men movie will be the same better than X-Men '97and we will enter a new golden age of mutant mania. However, this lovely show has set the bar pretty high with impossibility is high for the upcoming film, and with the MCU's recent track record of spots, it may not be possible to meet those expectations. That could spell doom for the biggest cinematic universe in history, and fans will once again be stuck where they were: spending years hoping someone can make mainstream audiences care about the X-Men again.
