Although X-Men ’97 has drawn considerable criticism from fans over recent storylines, the series remains immensely popular. Producer Jake Castorena has shared the reasons behind it during a recent interview.
Jake Castorena explains why X-Men ‘97 has become a ‘cult classic’ among fans
Castorena explained in a recent interview with CBR why X-Men ’97 is so successful among Marvel fans. He believes it is because the creative team behind the project is full of admirers of the iconic mutants. “Everyone is a fan to some degree, based on what level they come from,” Castorena shared with the outlet. “We try to put in that love, especially if it’s comic book stuff like, ‘hey, for the comic book fans, you’re going to recognize this pose, this page, this line, you know, this specific design that showed one time…’ It’s become a cult classic or a favorite. As far as keeping it accessible for, you know, someone coming in new… Narrative story over everything,” he added.
The supervising producer’s remark comes as some fans question certain story decisions made in the sophomore season. This includes Wolverine once again having Adamantium bonded to his skeleton and claws, as well as Gambit’s return from the dead. Fans are arguing that both stories were rushed.
Despite the contention, the series remains one of the most successful Marvel projects on Disney+. It has received widespread acclaim and remains on the platform’s top-10 TV charts. Moreover, the second season isn’t over yet, but the series has received orders for the third and fourth chapters.
In the same interview, Castorena pointed out that one major factor behind the show’s success is that X-Men are still very much “relevant.” He elaborated, “As old as these questions are, there’s still relevancy for all the good and all the bad, you know; prejudice is still a big thing, hope in the face of adversity… found family, found tribe, seeing oneself in others, right? It’s still a very real thing; it’s still a very human thing, a relatable thing.”
