On March 16, Marvel held the X-Men: 60 Uncanny Years Live Virtual Event to commemorate 60 years of X-Men in comics. Various creators from the team’s history participated, with one segment focusing on the X-Men in animation, including the upcoming X-Men ’97 series on Disney+.

X-Men ’97: Disney+’s Animated Reboot

First announced a year ago, X-Men ’97 is the MCU’s latest animated project, following What If…? and I Am Groot. As a reboot of the classic X-Men: The Animated Series, it will feature fan-favorite characters in a world without Professor X.

Main Villain Revealed For X-Men ’97

During the live virtual event, X-Men ’97 writer Beau DeMayo confirmed that Mister Sinister would be the primary antagonist in the upcoming animated series. Christopher Britton, who voiced the character in the original series, will reprise his role.

Mister Sinister won’t be the only known X-Men adversary in the series. Magneto, usually a villain, will be leading the X-Men this season, filling the void left by Professor X’s departure from Earth.

Emphasizing Empathy In the New Animated Series

The decision to shift Magneto from a classic enemy to a hero aligns with the overall theme of “the power of empathy” discussed by DeMayo at the event. Magneto represents aggressive justice for mutants, often juxtaposed with Professor X’s dream of equality.

Empathy could extend to both Magneto and Mister Sinister in the new series. Although Mister Sinister’s plan is described as “pretty foolproof,” he may not have considered the empathetic nature of the X-Men in his calculations.