X-Men ’97 Season 2 adds new X-Force lineup and expands Nightcrawler’s story

Marvel’s animated series X‑Men ’97 returned with its second season, featuring a re‑imagined X‑Force team. Cable assembles Archangel, Psylocke, Sunspot and Jubilee, omitting the original 1990s roster created by Rob Liefeld. Liefeld speculated the change may stem from the higher fees required to use his characters, highlighting the impact of creator compensation on adaptations.

In the same season, Nightcrawler receives a significantly larger character arc. Voice actor Adrian Hough explained that the mutant travels to ancient Egypt with Beast, Professor Xavier and others, and will undergo notable personal growth by the season’s end, with hints of further development in future seasons.