A post-credits scene in the season 1 finale of X-Men ‘97 teased the appearance of Apocalypse, the immortal mutant who served as the primary villain of season 2. The Marvel show’s second season ended on Aug. 12, and you’ll want to watch the credits for a preview of the next big threat the X-Men will be facing. If you missed it or want a breakdown of all the details, here’s what the teaser can tell us about what’s in store for season 3.
Spoilers ahead for X-Men 97’s season 2’s finale.
X-Men ’97 season 2’s post-credits scene, explained
X-Factor leader Valerie Cooper teamed up with Cable and his X-Force in the season 2 finale to try to kill Gambit before Apocalypse could take over his body. The mission was a disaster, with Gambit’s death just unleashing Apocalypse. Rogue was able to save Gambit and imprison Apocalypse in a gem with the help of the same Celestial that turned En Sabah Nur into Apocalypse. Kurt Wagner sacrificed himself so that Rogue and Gambit could be together, having faith that his death could help the X-Men build a better future.
But their peace will be short-lived. A post-credits scene shows that the staunchly anti-mutant Graydon Creed has been elected president. Beyond facing a hostile commander-in-chief who will likely revive the Sentinels program, the X-Men will also have to deal with one of their greatest enemies. The scene shows Cooper watching the election news on her computer in Washington, D.C. while also reading the mutant threat assessment file for the shapeshifter Mystique. The real Cooper then walks into the office, and Mystique shoots and kills her.
Mystique’s heavily redacted file is full of Easter eggs. It lists her children: Graydon Creed, Kurt Wagner, and Anne-Marie Darkholme, aka Rogue. While her primary alias is listed as Raven, the file also includes the names Randall C, Rebecca R, Jennifer D, and Jennifer L. Those are references to actresses who have previously played Mystique. Randall Carpenter and Jennifer Dale voiced her on X-Men: The Animated Series, while Rebecca Romijn and Jennifer Lawrence played her in Fox’s X-Men films.
The file also shows mugshots of her known associates. It’s hard to make out all the images, but the lineup definitely includes Magneto, Blob, Toad, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch. Her file also reveals that Mystique is “determined to attack the United States,” an assessment Mystique confirms. Apocalypse killed Magneto in season 2, but season 3 will see Mystique leading the Brotherhood of Mutants to fight enemies of mutantkind and the X-Men.
While Mystique, the Brotherhood of Mutants, and Graydon Creed will serve as the primary villains of X-Men ‘97 season 3, expect plenty of other bad guys. Season 1 focused on the threat of Bastion and the Sentinels, but still devoted time to Mister Sinister, Adversary, and Mojo. Apocalypse dominated season 2, but the show also introduced the Brood, Exodus, and Danger. The X-Men have such a rich collection of villains to choose from that there’s plenty of room for episodic antagonists and a season-long threat.
When is the X-Men ‘97 season 3 release date?
Production on X-Men ‘97 season 3 has already been completed, and it is scheduled to be released in 2027. While a date hasn’t been revealed yet, you can expect the premiere sometime during the summer. The hit series has already been renewed for a fourth season, so presumably the next big threat to the X-Men will be revealed in a season 3 post-credits scene.