X-Men '97 May Have Just Made a Major Retcon to the Original Animated Series

Jean Grey's doppelganger reveal might change everything.

By Jenna Anderson

The first two episodes of X-Men '97 are out into the world, leaving fans of Marvel's mutants with a lot to process. The animated series picks up after the events of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series, adding events that are decades in the making. One plot point from the second episode of X-Men '97 introduces a whole new ordeal — and just might change the canon of X-Men: The Animated Series in the process. Obviously, spoilers for the first two episodes of X-Men '97 below! Only look if you want to know!

The final moments of X-Men '97's premiere show the team grappling with the exit of Ororo Munroe / Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith), only to hear a knock at the mansion's door. While they expect it to possibly be sSorm, it ends up being an identical doppelganger of Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale), who frantically asks for the X-Men's help. On the surface, this seems to be a subversion of the comics introduction of Madelyne Pryor, especially given the fact that she has already been a part of the merchandise for X-Men '97. If either of these Jeans — the one arriving at the door, or the one who has been in the mansion since the start of the series — is Madelyne, it raises some questions. Exactly when in the events of X-Men: The Animated Series was Jean cloned? If the Jean we've been following thus far in X-Men '97 is actually Madelyne, when did that swap occur — and could it change Jean's role in some of the later events of X-Men: The Animated Series?

Who Is Madelyne Pryor?

Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith in 1983's Uncanny X-Men #168, Madelyne is initially introduced as the first wife of Scott Summers / Cyclops, who he meets in the wake of Jean's apparent death during the Phoenix Saga. Despite Madelyne's near-identical physical similarities to Jean, Scott marries her and they give birth to their first child, Nathan Summers / Cable.

Madelyne is then revealed to be a genetically-engineered clone of Jean, who turns to the dark side and acts as the Goblin Queen after being cast aside by Scott and the X-Men.

What Is X-Men '97 About?

Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.

The voice cast of X-Men '97 includes Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, JP Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler. Beau DeMayo served as head writer; episodes are directed by Jake Castorena, Chase Conley and Emi Yonemura, and the series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso and DeMayo.

What do you think of the ending of X-Men '97's two-episode premiere? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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New episodes of X-Men '97 debut on Wednesdays exclusively on Disney+. If you haven't signed up for Disney+ yet, you can try it out here.

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