X-Men '97: Jennifer Hale Reflects on Goblin Queen Twist in Season 1

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed countless twists and turns in the gaming universe, I must say that the revelation of Jean Grey being replaced by Madelyn Pryor in X-Men ’97 left me utterly astounded! The fact that Jennifer Hale had to portray not one but three distinct characters was nothing short of extraordinary. It’s like playing a game where you control multiple characters, each with their unique abilities and personalities, all within the same storyline.

One significant surprise unfolded in the first season of X-Men ’97, with many twists to choose from, was the disclosure that Jean Grey had been swapped by her clone, Madelyne Pryor, at some point during the show’s run. This plot development required voice actress Jennifer Hale to portray not only the beloved character of Jean Grey but also Madelyne Pryor when she was still posing as Jean Grey, and later on, Madelyne Pryor following her transformation into the Goblin Queen. In a candid conversation with ComicBook’s Phase Zero podcast during an exclusive interview, Hale shared insights on the challenges of juggling these multifaceted performances and when she discovered this unexpected turn of events was taking place.

Hale shared that he didn’t receive the scripts very far in advance. He mentioned that the scripts were kept confidential, which he believed was appropriate. Eventually, he got his hands on a batch of scripts, at which point he exclaimed, “Wow, this is wild!” To express gratitude, he wanted to acknowledge their voice director, Meredith Lane, who he considers an unsung hero in the process. As a voice actor, Meredith’s role is crucial for him and many others because she has the reference of the original characters, ensuring that he can jump into any scene fully without worrying about how it all fits together. With her guidance, Meredith prevents overlapping performances and encourages us to play freely. In his opinion, Meredith does an incredible job and is greatly appreciated.

Hale continued discussing her process in locating the voices for both Jean Grey and Madelyne Pryor. She clarified that it was surprisingly straightforward to embody Jean Grey, often just requiring a single repeated word. Notably, discovering the voice for Madelyne Pryor was an even smoother process.

Usually, I attach myself to a significant phrase or physicality. For Jean, it’s the exclamation “Scott!” That’s where its essence lies, correct? As for the Goblin Queen, it’s not a specific line, more like the attitude embodied in certain clothes, such as ‘Oh really?, like, ‘Make way,’ or ‘I’ll dismantle you,’ or similar assertive tones, like ‘I will destroy you.’ With Madeline, it’s a different energetic direction. Her key phrase isn’t ‘Scott,’ it’s other things.

Alongside Jennifer Hale, the cast of X-Men ’97 features Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann for Rogue, George Buza playing Beast, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Adrian Hough portraying Nightcrawler, and Christopher Britton voicing Mister Sinister. They all reprised their roles from the ’90s series and also took on new characters. Joining them in the new cast are Ray Chase (Cyclops), JP Karliak (Morph), AJ LoCascio for Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, and Matthew Waterson for Magneto. In other words, some old favorites like Catherine Disher (Jean Grey), Chris Potter (Gambit), Alyson Court (Jubilee), and Lawrence Bayne (Cable) are back, and they’re joined by newcomers such as Ray Chase, JP Karliak, AJ LoCascio, Holly Chou, Isaac Robinson-Smith, and Matthew Waterson.

The animated series “X-Men ’97” is currently available for streaming on Disney+, with season 2 currently being produced and plans for season 3 underway.

2024-09-03 06:39

X-Men ’97: Jennifer Hale Reflects on Goblin Queen Twist in Season 1

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