WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS from X-Men ’97 season 1, episode 10.
X-Men ’97 may lead to the beginning of a new shared Marvel animated universe, according to a Marvel Studios executive. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie timeline keeps expanding, it appears that Marvel Studios may have another continuity growing in the near future. As seen throughout X-Men ’97 season 1, the mutants are surrounded by a world with various Marvel heroes and villains.
Following X-Men ’97 episode 10, Screen Rant had an exclusive interview with Brad Winderbaum, who is Marvel Studios’ Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation, about the season 1 finale and what is next for the series. Given all the cameos that were showcased in X-Men ’97 season 1, Winderbaum was asked if this could mark the birth of a so-called Marvel Animated Cinematic Universe (MACU) as he teased the following:
As the world waits patiently for X-Men ’97 season 2, there are a lot of spinoff ideas that could spawn out of this universe. The one that many have been asking for is Spider-Man ’98, serving as a sequel to Spider-Man: The Animated Series, as that version of Peter Parker made a cameo twice in the season. With Marvel Studios having the rights to this version of Spider-Man, a series revival is more than possible at this point.
As major heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Hulk were also seen throughout the season, it would be intriguing to see a ’90s-themed Avengers spinoff and bring those characters together. With Daredevil: Born Again set to happen in 2025, Disney+ could also invest in an animated Daredevil TV show, as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen also made a cameo in X-Men ’97 and has already appeared in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
With the MCU also rebooting the Fantastic Four, an animated offshoot series from X-Men ’97 could allow Marvel Studios to explore Marvel’s First Family during the ’90s era, too. Whether X-Men ’97 season 2 will plant any ideas for potential spinoffs remains to be seen. Hopefully, as X-Men ’97 continues to grow more popular, it will lead to some fun and exciting spinoff series and give Marvel Studios an animated MCU as a parallel to their live-action franchise.