X-Men ’97 Is Still Hiding Season 2’s Biggest Story

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Fans are excited for the return of the X-Men in a new series, but one key character is noticeably absent from the first trailer. X-Men ’97, which started streaming on Disney+ in March 2024, brings back the beloved mutant team from X-Men: The Animated Series, the show that originally aired from 1992 to 1997. This revival has made the team more dynamic and powerful, while also introducing significant changes for these iconic Marvel heroes.

Wow, Season 1 of X-Men ’97 really threw everything at the X-Men! They were battling so many villains – the Friends of Humanity, that huge Master Mold, the Goblin Queen, Mojo, even Apocalypse’s mom, Deathbird! And Bolivar Trask and those Prime Sentinels were a constant pain. Bastion seemed like the big bad for the season, but the finale was a total shock! It looks like we’re going to see different versions of Apocalypse causing trouble in Season 2 and beyond. Plus, with the team spread across time and hints that someone might be coming back from the dead, things are getting seriously complicated! I can’t wait to see how they handle all of this!

Gambit Is Missing From X-Men ’97 Season 2’s Trailer

Scheduled for release in May 2026, the next installment in the story will feature Apocalypse as the main villain. The narrative will follow multiple timelines: Professor X, Magneto, Beast, Rogue, and Nightcrawler will battle Apocalypse’s emergence in Ancient Egypt, while Cyclops and Jean Grey confront a bleak future ravaged by him. Simultaneously, in the present day 1990s, Bishop and Forge will assemble a new team of X-Men to stop his plans. However, a key member is conspicuously absent from this new team.

Gambit, voiced by A.J. LoCascio, was a key character in the first season of X-Men ’97. He tragically died in the fifth episode while trying to prevent a massacre on Genosha. His death deeply affected the X-Men, particularly Rogue (Lenore Zann), with whom he shared a complicated romantic relationship alongside Magneto (Matthew Waterson). However, the show hinted that Gambit’s story might not be over.

The first season of X-Men ’97 concluded with the team members flung across various points in time, each landing in a different era of Apocalypse’s past and future. Meanwhile, in 1997, Apocalypse is seen searching through the wreckage of Genosha and discovers a card belonging to Gambit, hinting that Gambit might become one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen – specifically, Death. This aligns with the character’s storyline in the Marvel comics, but the trailer for Season 2 didn’t show Gambit at all, except in brief flashbacks.

Gambit’s X-Men ’97 Death Is One of Marvel’s Most Tragic Moments

Gambit quickly became a beloved character after first appearing in Marvel Comics’ The Uncanny X-Men #266 in 1990. Many fans enjoyed seeing him as a regular member of the X-Men on X-Men: The Animated Series, with voice actors Chris Potter and Tony Daniels bringing him to life. It was exciting to see him return in X-Men ’97. Because he was so popular, Gambit seemed like a likely candidate for a dramatic and surprising death – and that’s exactly what happened, making it a very impactful moment for fans.

Gambit was with the X-Men on Genosha, celebrating the island nation’s acceptance into the United Nations. However, the celebration turned into a massacre when a more powerful Master Mold and an army of Sentinels attacked, killing many innocent mutants, including Madelyne Pryor, Banshee, Marrow, Callisto, and Leech. Magneto was seemingly killed in the attack, though he would later return, and Gambit ultimately gave his life to destroy the Master Mold.

Gambit’s powerful declaration of his name to the Master Mold – telling it to “remember it” – quickly became a truly unforgettable and emotional scene in the Marvel universe. While he survived that encounter, the latest trailer for the new season doesn’t show him or any of Apocalypse’s other Horsemen, leaving fans wondering what happened to him. However, the trailer hints that Gambit’s story will still significantly affect the team moving forward.

Gambit Will Be a Major Figure in Marvel Studios’ 2026 X-Men Stories

Even though Gambit isn’t prominently featured in the initial trailer—appearing only in Rogue’s memories—he’s expected to play a significant part in Season 2. He’ll be a central character, alongside three other mutants chosen by Apocalypse, and X-Men ’97 won’t be the only Marvel project in 2026 to include this mutant with energy-manipulating powers.

Channing Tatum is bringing back his role as Gambit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! He’ll appear in the 2026 film Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo brothers, continuing from his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. The story involves a conflict with the main Avengers team (from Earth 616) and Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.) as they try to prevent a dangerous incursion. There’s a possibility Gambit won’t survive this battle with Doom, potentially leading to another tragic end for the character.

While Gambit will likely be reimagined for future Marvel projects like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it’s fantastic to see Channing Tatum return to the role in X-Men ’97. The mystery surrounding his appearance in trailers and promotional materials makes his comeback – even as a powerful villain – all the more thrilling and unexpected. We won’t have to wait long to see how it all unfolds, with Season 2 arriving on July 1, 2026.

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2026-06-01 22:07