X-Men '97 Star's Near-Miss: Almost Missed Iconic Marvel Return!
Marvel fans can look forward to a wave of new content on Disney+ and in theaters, including "Wonder Man," "Daredevil: Born Again Season 2," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," and "Avengers: Doomsday." Anticipation is particularly high for "X-Men '97 Season 2," returning July 1, with Storm actress Alison Sealy-Smith sharing a surprising anecdote about almost missing her role, while the new season promises scattered X-Men and numerous character deaths.
Marvel fans have a wealth of new content to anticipate across Disney+ and the big screen, with several highly anticipated projects slated for release. The year kicked off with the premiere of "Wonder Man," a showbiz epic featuring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, which was released as a full season binge at the end of January. Following this, the second Disney+ series, "Daredevil: Born Again Season 2," is also on the horizon, though its release will not be a binge-watch.
On the cinematic front, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is gearing up for a significant year. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is set to hit theaters, starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. This film is expected to serve as a direct lead-in to "Avengers: Doomsday," a major event film starring Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, scheduled for release on December 18.
Beyond live-action, Marvel Animation is generating considerable excitement with the return of "X-Men '97." The first breathtaking trailer for "X-Men '97 Season 2" was recently unveiled, confirming its highly anticipated return on July 1. Ahead of this premiere, Alison Sealy-Smith, the voice of Storm, shared a remarkable behind-the-scenes story during a panel at Indiana Comic Convention. Sealy-Smith revealed that she nearly missed out on her iconic role, initially dismissing an email from Disney about the reboot as a scam. It took persistent follow-ups and encouragement from her agent for her to realize the legitimacy of the offer, leading her to rejoin the beloved animated series after a three-decade hiatus.
Plot specifics for "X-Men '97 Season 2" are being kept under wraps, but the trailer indicated that the X-Men will be scattered across time as they strive to return to their original timeline. The primary antagonist for the season is presumed to be Apocalypse, voiced by Ross Marquand. Marquand previously hinted at the severity of the upcoming season, suggesting numerous character deaths, which implies fans should brace for more significant losses following those in the first season, such as Gambit and Madelyn Prior. The first season of "X-Men '97" is currently available for streaming on Disney+, with further updates expected from Collider.
In addition to news and show updates, Collider also presents an interactive Marvel personality quiz titled "Which MCU Hero Are You?" This quiz allows fans to discover which of six prominent MCU heroes—Spider-Man, Daredevil, Iron Man, Punisher, Thor, or Captain America—best matches their personality, values, and fighting spirit through a series of ten questions. The quiz explores motivations, conflict styles, views on secret identities, coping with loss, team dynamics, moral codes, everyday life, and fears, ultimately revealing the hero whose traits align most closely with the participant.