X-Men '97 season 2 makes Apocalypse the central villain
X-Men '97 season 2 makes Apocalypse its central antagonist across three timelines. Disney+ dropped three episodes on July 1, 2026, after the Season 1 finale scattered mutants through time. One squad lands in ancient Egypt, another in a dystopian 40th century, and the rest stay in the '90s. The men season premiere puts the revival's oldest foe front and center.
Key Takeaways
- X-Men '97 season 2 debuted three episodes on Disney+ July 1, 2026, kicking off a nine-episode run.
- Apocalypse anchors past, present, and future storylines as En Sabah Nur rises in Egypt and rules the far future.
- Episode 2 introduces X-Force with a bespoke opening-credits sequence featuring Cable, Jubilee, Sunspot, Psylocke, and Archangel.
- IGN rated the premiere 9/10, praising nostalgia and character drama while noting Episode 1 moves fast.
- Remaining episodes release weekly on Disney+, with each early installment getting its own opening sequence.
Who is the big bad in X-Men '97 season 2?
Apocalypse. According to The Ringer, both time-stranded teams face the same foe despite being separated by millennia. In 3000 BC, Professor Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast witness En Sabah Nur evolve into Apocalypse. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, and Morph land in the 40th century, where Apocalypse has turned Earth into a wasteland.
The Ringer argues animation suits the villain better than 2016's live-action X-Men: Apocalypse did. Episode 3, "Rise of Apocalypse," even gives the character a younger, freedom-fighter version of Nur before his Darwinian turn.
How does the three-episode premiere work?
Each opening installment focuses on one era rather than juggling all timelines at once. "Days of Past Future" heads to the far future and adapts elements of The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, reuniting Scott and Jean with young Nathan. IGN notes the Scott/Jean/Nathan dynamic carries real emotional weight after last season's Cable farewell.
"A Force to Be Reckoned With" stays in the present, where Cable recruits Jubilee and Sunspot into a covert X-Force unit while X-Factor serves as the government-backed mutant faction. Polaris gets a standout arc as mutant intolerance rises without the main team. Episode 3 flashes back to ancient Egypt for the Magneto and En Sabah Nur cliffhanger.
Why did X-Men '97 change its iconic opening intro?
Season 2 gives each of the first three episodes its own credits sequence tied to that installment's focus. Episode 2 swaps the classic X-Men roll call for an X-Force version, as reported by Yahoo Entertainment. Cable fights Sentinels, Psylocke prowls Japanese rooftops, and Archangel takes flight—all set to the original theme song.
Cable calls the squad a "black ops unit," echoing comic rosters with Archangel and Psylocke. The full team includes Jubilee and Sunspot alongside Cable, Archangel, and Psylocke. The finale showdown now pits X-Force against Apocalypse and his Horsemen instead of the X-Men versus Magneto.
What are critics saying about the debut?
Early reviews are strong. IGN awarded the first three episodes a 9/10, calling the season a "wild, engaging, and nostalgia-filled ride" that wastes no time on Apocalypse-heavy fallout. The outlet flagged Episode 1 as slightly rushed but praised Magneto and Nur's rapport in Episode 3.
The Ringer echoed that sentiment, writing that X-Men '97 "has returned with a bang" and hasn't lost a step. For more on what is landing on streaming this month, check our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage. New episodes arrive weekly on Disney+.