Marvel Studios' X-Men Return July 1 In A New Movie-Length Special Event

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Published Jun 17, 2026, 12:02 PM EDT

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X-Men's recent resurgence has been a real treat to witness these past few years, and Marvel Studios' next project with these heroes will be a movie-length event that is bound to be one of their best outings yet. After its incredible first season, X-Men '97 will return for its second season at the start of July, and it won't be a short premiere.

According to What's On Disney Plus, X-Men '97 season 2 will have a three-episode premiere, indicating that it may feel more like a mini movie, rather than a typical televised opening. There was already plenty to look forward to regarding this beloved series hitting our screens again, but this news only makes the upcoming release more exciting.

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 →

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

↻ PLAY AGAIN

With more projects in the works, 2026 looks like the year of the X-Men, and the impending return will be the start of this new era for the franchise. There's still time to binge season 1 for those who haven't seen it, but for anyone up-to-date, strap in on July 1, as the explosive premiere is gearing up to be truly epic.

X-Men '97 Season 2 Is One Of Marvel's Most Anticipated Releases

In a time when the MCU has been struggling a little, X-Men '97 has emerged as one of Marvel's strongest creations, making season 2 highly anticipated. The first installment completely exceeded expectations, successfully capturing the charm and characterization of the classic 90s series while tweaking it to fit a modern audience.

The storytelling is much grittier, and you'll have a hard time finding many other animated shows with such high-quality visuals. The Disney+ hit has already introduced plenty of major characters and explored them in depth, but there will undoubtedly be plenty of other iconic heroes and villains in X-Men '97 season 2, adding to the project's hype.

In addition, the upcoming season has a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning those who have already seen it were all in agreement that it was exceptional. The plot looks like it will expand on the first outing and become increasingly intense, especially given that the previous deaths are still weighing heavily on some protagonists.

Knowing the series has a different tone and atmosphere from most other Marvel projects makes it stand out that little bit more, and the bar was raised extremely high with the debut season. As a result, fans simply can't get enough of X-Men '97, hence why its return is making so much noise. Having been off screens for over two years, this next chapter has undoubtedly been a long time coming, and it won't be the last big impact the X-Men have on Marvel throughout 2026.

The X-Men Will Also Return In Avengers: Doomsday

Although they've yet to have an official movie, the X-Men have appeared throughout the MCU sporadically, with Deadpool & Wolverine, The Marvels, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all featuring some variation of these heroes. However, Avengers: Doomsday will grant them their first major role as a team in this multi-billion-dollar franchise.

Many actors from the older films will reprise their roles, making the first Avengers movie since Endgame that little bit more special. It was already set to be huge given that Steve Rogers will return, and Robert Downey Jr. is also set to play Doctor Doom, but the X-Men's involvement cements it as a must-see cinematic adventure.

Considering there hasn't been a particularly strong overarching story heading into December's blockbuster, it makes it harder to predict how they'll appear and under what circumstances. Thankfully, though, X-Men '97 gives viewers a chance to become invested in these characters ahead of their Doomsday appearance, which should really put the X-Men back on the map.

Judging by the snippet we saw of Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday, the group's battle will almost certainly feature high stakes and tremendous loss, ensuring X-Men fans won't want to miss their first live-action outing in several years. Until then, X-Men '97 season 2 acts as a tremendous warm-up, and regardless of which project winds up being better, the next six months are an incredibly exciting time for the classic superhero team.

Source: What's On Disney Plus