Marvel Studios’ Ugliest Scandal Has Me Worried About Its Biggest Future Project

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Marvel Studios faces crucial years beginning in 2026, relying heavily on the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars to resolve the complexities of the current “Multiverse Saga” and launch a fresh start for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A major component of this revitalization in Phase 7 is expected to be the introduction of the X-Men, uniting all of Marvel’s characters under one banner. The key question now is how Marvel Studios will reimagine the X-Men franchise.

Marvel fans recently got a taste of what’s to come with X-Men ’97, the Disney+ animated series that continued the story from the popular X-Men: The Animated Series of the 1990s. It essentially showed how the X-Men could fit into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show quickly became a big success for Marvel Studios Animation and one of the most well-received MCU projects in recent years. However, before the excitement really took off, Beau De Mayo, the showrunner, was let go. This caused a significant amount of controversy – one of the biggest the MCU has faced publicly – and it’s left me concerned about both the future of X-Men ’97 and the overall X-Men reboot within the MCU.

X-Men ’97 Was One of Marvel’s Most Controversial Releases

Beau DeMayo was fired by Disney and Marvel, but the exact reasons are unclear. While both sides have offered explanations, it appears disagreements stemmed from a combination of personality clashes and issues in his personal life, which Disney claims impacted the workplace. DeMayo argues that his direct communication style and creative approach caused conflict, and that his identity as a LGBTQ+ person of color made him a target within Disney’s corporate environment and contributed to his removal from the X-Men ’97 project.

Earlier this year, DeMayou shared in a video that he expected Marvel to support him when facing criticism based on his identity. Instead, he claims the studio allowed executives and some crew members to use his identity against him, creating a hostile work environment. He alleges they used harmful stereotypes – describing him as large, intimidating, overly opinionated, and emotionally volatile – to discredit him.

Beau De Mayo, the former showrunner of X-Men ’97, has been very outspoken online both during and after the show’s release. This has created a problem for Marvel Studios, which is currently trying to improve its public image. Alongside production setbacks and a lack of promotion for projects featuring diverse characters – like the stalled Blade reboot and the quick Disney+ releases of Ironheart and Echo – it suggests a change in what Marvel prioritizes. This is especially concerning for X-Men fans, because the X-Men aren’t just about superhero action; they explore deeper, more meaningful themes than many other Marvel properties.

X-Men ’97 Had Authenticity That Made It A Hit

X-Men ’97 wasn’t simply a good revival of the classic 90s cartoon; it brilliantly captured the heart of the X-Men comics – particularly the complicated relationships between characters. It also delivered the story’s underlying themes and symbolism more effectively than any previous adaptation. This wasn’t accidental; creator Beau DeMayo has explained that his experiences as a queer and Black man gave him a unique perspective, allowing him to portray the characters and their struggles in a way others hadn’t.

According to writer Denys Cowan, when he was hired for X-Men, he was told his unique background as a queer, Black man was valued. He also stated that they agreed he would oversee all aspects of the project, from beginning to end, due to the themes of the X-Men, his experience, and the positive reception to his initial ideas.

Viewers quickly recognized a new depth and understanding in X-Men ’97, starting with the politically focused episode “Mutant Liberation Begins.” The show clearly aimed to reflect the thoughts, feelings, and discussions of modern marginalized groups and where the world seemed to be heading. Notably, the series powerfully depicted the genocide of Genosha, the mutant homeland, in the episode “Remember It,” drawing clear parallels to the Holocaust. Fans were deeply moved by how the story captured the fear, suffering, and resilience of people who have experienced unjustified hatred and violence.

Beyond getting the underlying social and political themes right, X-Men ’97 Season 1 also showed a deep understanding of each X-Men character and their established backstories. Interestingly, according to creator Beau DeMayo, his passion for the source material was initially seen as a negative.

DeMayo explained in his video that his critics shifted their attacks to his abilities, claiming he was overly enthusiastic. They openly disliked his efforts to champion fans and the source material, even accusing him of simply copying the comics. He was repeatedly told they should create their own take on the X-Men. He countered by calmly pointing out that fans didn’t want a reimagined version; they wanted to see the characters they’d loved for years accurately portrayed on screen.

Again, take DeMayo’s account with the proper grain of salt,

The MCU X-Men Reboot Needs An Authentic POV

Since his departure from X-Men ’97, Beau DeMayo has been really supportive of the new team, but he’s also expressed concerns about whether the show will live up to what fans expect in Seasons 2 and 3. He’s also been pretty vocal about his disappointment with Marvel’s choice of Jake Schreier – the director of Thunderbolts – to direct the X-Men reboot. He seems to think Schreier’s background and worldview might not be the right fit for a modern X-Men movie, and it’s a point he’s made quite clearly.

I’ve been following the X-Men comics for a while now, and even though DeMayo’s comments feel a bit harsh, I think there’s something to what he’s saying. It’s pretty clear Marvel’s been having a tough time with the X-Men lately. This new “From the Ashes” relaunch just hasn’t worked. Taking the X-Men out of Krakoa – being their own nation – and spreading them all over the world felt like a step backwards. Honestly, it feels like they’re struggling to recapture the depth of what made the X-Men special – using mutants as a way to explore issues faced by marginalized communities, like Black people or the LGBTQ+ community, and even just explaining what those experiences are like. It seems like Marvel is finding it hard to create a fresh, meaningful X-Men story that also appeals to a broader audience, and it’s frustrating to watch.

So what will the X-Men MCU reboot do to get over that chanllenge?

I’m really excited about Jake Schreier directing, but I hope Marvel puts a lot of thought into who writes the script. There are so many amazing writers out there – people of all backgrounds and identities – who could bring a fresh and important perspective to the X-Men story. Honestly, given how diverse the X-Men team is, it might even take a whole team of writers to do the story justice and make sure every character feels authentic and well-developed.

Right now, my biggest concern is that the second season of X-Men ’97, without Beau DeMayo’s creative input, might end up feeling empty and off-track, much like the current X-Men comics. We’ll have to wait and see the new season to know for sure, but I hope it doesn’t signal bigger problems for the planned Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot.

All X-Men content is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-11-14 19:14