Marvel Animation has finally given fans their first proper look at X-Men '97 Season 2, and the wait now has a firm end date. The studio confirmed that the long-awaited follow-up to last year's breakout hit will land on Disney+ on July 1, 2026, with a nine-episode order that picks up directly from the explosive first-season finale. The new trailer dropped on May 28, 2026 and has already racked up tens of millions of views across Marvel's social channels.
Apocalypse at the centre of a scattered timeline
The teaser confirms the long-teased arrival of the immortal mutant villain Apocalypse, who emerges as the season's principal threat. Following the dramatic events of the Season 1 finale, the X-Men have been hurled across time. Cyclops and Jean Grey have been flung thousands of years into the future, while Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler and Beast have been sent back to ancient Egypt, leaving a fractured team to try to reunite. The split structure has been widely described by critics as an animated take on the classic Age of Apocalypse storyline.
Gambit returns and Polaris joins the roster
The trailer also resolves the cliffhanger around Remy LeBeau, with A.J. LoCascio reprising his role as Gambit. Apocalypse was seen holding Gambit's playing card at the end of Season 1, and the new footage strongly suggests the ragin' Cajun has a part to play in the time-twisting fight ahead. Joining the roster for the first time is Polaris, voiced by Scream icon Neve Campbell. She is part of a wave of new and returning mutants that also includes Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Havok, Psylocke, Archangel and Colossus.
Why the launch matters in Abu Dhabi
Disney+ subscribers in the UAE will be able to stream Season 2 day-and-date with the United States from July 1. The series has been a strong performer in the region, where appetite for premium animation and legacy Marvel IP continues to grow. With the trailer setting up a multi-era story, a redesigned team look and a heavyweight villain in Apocalypse, Marvel Animation has set the stage for what could become one of the most ambitious chapters in the X-Men screen catalogue to date.
