Published Aug 12, 2026, 8:45 PM EDT
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9
If you thought Gambit was bad, Marvel Studios just gave audiences one of the most tragic X-Men '97 deaths. Likewise, this is happening mere months before the character's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers: Doomsday.
As seen in X-Men '97 season 2, the X-Men have been grappling with En Sabah Nur's Apocalypse in the past, future, and their present-day 90s. By the season's end, Apocalypse's attempt to crush the X-Men at their most vulnerable using the resurrected Gambit fails thanks to one major hero's sacrifice...though not the one audiences were initially led to believe.
Although Rogue was ready and willing to sacrifice her own life to save Remy LeBeau's, Kurt Wagner wasn't willing to let his half-sister lose her life for the sake of the one she loves, leading to the surprising loss of X-Men '97's Nightcrawler by the episode's end. Here's how Nightcrawler dies in X-Men '97 season 2's finale, and what it means for Marvel Studios' future and its plans for the teleporting blue elf.
In A Shocking Twist, X-Men '97 Season 2's Finale Just Killed Kurt Wagner's Nightcrawler
X-Men '97 season 2's finale puts Rogue in an incredibly challenging scenario with Apocalypse threatening to fully possess Gambit and X-Force joining forces with X-Factor against the X-Men to kill Remy before that happens. Determined to save the man she loves no matter the cost, Rogue cuts a deal with the cosmic being Eson, the same Celestial who granted En Sabah Nur his power, transforming the First Mutant into Apocalypse 3,000 years prior in Ancient Egypt.
Agreeing to give up her own life in exchange for his, Rogue is granted Celestial power of her own to free Gambit from Apocalypse's influence and trap the spirit of the major X-Men supervillain indefinitely. However, the rug is completely pulled out from under audiences with the major reveal in the aftermath that Nightcrawler cut his own deal with Eson after Rogue left to save Remy.
Taking Rogue's place and offering himself up as the life that must be claimed, Nighcrawler convinces Eson of his faith that the memory of his life will encourage new life and growth in the future. That's Kurt Wagner at his core, expressing his enduring faith, kindness, and selflessness even at the end of his life in X-Men '97. At the same time, that's exactly what make Nightcrawler's death so dang painful, as he was easily the true heart and soul of the X-Men, just as he often is in the original comics.
After X-Men '97 Season 2, Nightcrawler's MCU Debut Just Became Way More Important
Remarkably, it feels worth nothing that X-Men '97 Season 2 has just killed Kurt only a few months before his expected live-action MCU debut in Avengers: Doomsday, with Alan Cumming returning to play Nightcrawler alongside several other actors from Fox's previous X-Men movies.
At the time of writing, Cumming's Nightcrawler has yet to be featured in any of the trailers, teasers, or exclusive convention footage, save for one piece of artwork showing Doomsday's full confirmed cast. Keeping that in mind, it's unknown just how substantial Nightcrawler's role will be in the major MCU crossover. However, one can hope that his role will be meaningful, especially after we just lost Marvel Studios' other Nightcrawler.
Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.”
🐺 Wolverine The Loner
🧠 Professor X The Visionary
🧲 Magneto The Survivor
ACTIVATE CEREBRO →
01
Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do?
ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever
NEXT →
02
Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move?
AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices
NEXT →
03
A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into?
AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails
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04
A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond?
APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause
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05
A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do?
AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes
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06
What’s your biggest flaw?
AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong
NEXT →
07
Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move?
AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation
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08
What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants?
ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything
REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY →
Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity
🐺
Wolverine (Logan)
“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.
Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed
🧠
Professor X (Charles Xavier)
“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.
Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful
🧲
Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)
“Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.
Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding
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With any luck, the live-action Kurt will make up for the animated one's death by having a role that's as significant as he deserves. If Avengers: Doomsday is going to re-introduce this live-action version of Nightcrawler to the MCU's wider audience, Kurt very much deserves enough screen time that's worthy of his status as one of the X-Men's most important and beloved characters (regardless of the universe).
Is There Any Way To Bring Back Nightcrawler In Future Seasons of X-Men '97?
Like most deaths in any version of the Marvel Universe, Nightcrawler's death doesn't necessarily have to be permanent in X-Men '97 season 2. That said, the means to bring Kurt back isn't as straightforward as Gambit's resurrection was with an adaptation of Remy's Horseman of Death storyline. Although Nightcrawler did once return to the land of the living after summoning his fellow X-Men for a battle in the afterlife against his father Azazel and a force of demons, that might be a more difficult storyline to translate into future seasons of X-Men '97.
Overall, the best possibility to potentially bring Kurt back at some point would be if X-Men' 97 continues long enough to get to Krakoa, mutantkind's most recent attempt at their own island nation. During the Age of Krakoa, mutants developed resurrection protocols, ensuring that mutants could be brought back to life if they were ever to meet their demise under specific circumstances.
If Krakoa is indeed reached in future seasons, one can imagine that Nighcrawler would be one of the first characters audiences would want to see brought back. He could then act as a central figure when it comes to mutants achieving immortality, just like Nighcrawler was in the comics.
For the time being, Kurt's sacrifice is looking pretty dang permanent. After all, it was tied to a cosmic deal with a Celestial. While it may still sting, it's hard to imagine a better way for Nightcrawler's story to end in X-Men '97, willingly giving up his own life as a sacrifice with the faith that his loved one would live on to lead happy and full lives.
Kurt has made the ultimate sacrifice. As a major fan of Nightcrawler personally, it's deeply heartbreaking and hits just as hard as losing Gambit in X-Men '97 season 1 (if not harder). That said, it does create an interesting situation for Marvel's next major X-Men project, with Nightcrawler's live-action MCU debut on the horizon. My fingers are most definitely crossed that Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday will be given the time and space to have an arc even half as meaningful as this animated version's was.
All episodes of X-Men '97 Season 2 are now streaming on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.
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Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date December 18, 2026
Runtime 165 Minutes
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
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Johnny Storm / Human Torch
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
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English (US) ·