30 Years Later, X-Men ’97 Season 2 Can Finally Pay Off A Major OG Series Tease

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After nearly 30 years, Marvel Studios has a great chance to fulfill a promise from the original animated series with season 2 of X-Men ’97. The first season successfully blended familiar elements with fresh storylines, adapting key comic book plots and creating interesting team-ups between mutant heroes. Now, season 2 can finally deliver on hints dropped in the original X-Men series about one of Marvel’s most beloved characters: Deadpool.

Deadpool, the popular and often unpredictable hero from the late 90s and 2000s, never actually appeared on the classic X-Men: The Animated Series, though there were hints and mentions of him. He’s become even more famous since then, boosted by three successful movies starring Ryan Reynolds, making him a well-known character to fans and general audiences alike.

Although Deadpool likely wasn’t included in the first season of X-Men ’97 because of his upcoming appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, a recent hint suggests we might finally see the popular character join the animated series when the new season premieres this July.

Deadpool Was Teased Multiple Times In The Original X-Men Animated Series

The classic X-Men: The Animated Series included a few hints about the character Wade Wilson (Deadpool) over its five seasons. One memorable instance occurred when Professor X explored Sabretooth’s mind, briefly showing Deadpool’s face – a nod to both characters’ connection to the Weapon X program and Wolverine. Xavier also used an image of Deadpool while battling Wolverine at one point.

Morph also shapeshifted into Deadpool to playfully mock Wolverine, hinting at the complicated past between Logan and Wade Wilson. Despite these appearances, Deadpool never actually appeared in the show, and the character wasn’t directly acknowledged due to the stricter censorship standards of the time. He never spoke, and his name was never mentioned.

Deadpool wasn’t always a household name, but his popularity has steadily grown over the years, making him one of Marvel’s most beloved characters. Now might be the perfect time for him to officially join the animated X-Men world.

Nearly 30 Years Later, X-Men ’97 Season 2 Needs To Actually Debut Deadpool

The animated series X-Men ’97 may finally be introducing Deadpool. A new trailer for season 2 shows Morph briefly transforming into Deadpool while battling the Brood, which is a fun reference to the original show. Fans are hoping this also hints at a proper debut for the character himself.

When Marvel Studios was making the first season of X-Men ’97, they apparently didn’t allow Deadpool to appear, likely because Ryan Reynolds was about to play the character in a live-action movie with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Now, with the character Morph shown transforming into Deadpool in the upcoming season, it seems those rules have changed, opening the door for a full appearance by Wade Wilson for the first time.

Bringing Deadpool into the animated X-Men world would definitely thrill both longtime viewers and new fans discovering the franchise with the recent revival. It would be especially exciting to finally resolve storylines hinted at nearly 30 years ago.

X-Men ’97 season 2 is set to premiere July 1st on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.

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2026-05-29 06:18