Warning: this article contains spoilers for X-Men '97: Season 1, Episode 10! If you haven't already, be sure to check out our review of "Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 3."
Marvel Studios' head of streaming Brad Winderbaum has teased the potential for a revival of Spider-Man: The Animated Series following the success of X-Men '97.
The 10th and final episode of the first season of X-Men '97, titled Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3, featured several superhero cameos, including a brief appearance from none other than Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, which instantly reignited fans hopes for a potential Spider-Man '98 Disney+ series in the future.
The blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in X-Men '97 sees Peter and Mary Jane standing alongside each other as they watch a news broadcast on a TV in a store window, warning the world of Asteroid M's descent towards Earth. Their appearance implies the two reunited after the events of Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
Marvel Studios Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, has since spoken to Screen Rant about Spider-Man's surprise appearance and whether there is a chance of tapping into a new Marvel animated universe with more characters from the 90s cartoon era. He admitted he wouldn't rule anything out at this stage.
"It is amazing to see them back on screen together. I wish we could tell that whole adventure with Madame Web and figure out how exactly he did it!" Winderbaum laughed, recalling the events of the climactic fifth season of Spider-Man: The Animated Series. "Maybe one day, we as fanboys could certainly dream.
"There is always potential, right?" he added. "I don't want to close the door on anything. But I think that for now, for the foreseeable future, X-Men '97 will own the 90s and how much we bring in guest stars or tell stories from other Marvel characters from that era is TBD, but it will be seen through that lens of the X-Men."
Spider-Man: The Animated Series aired for five seasons between 1994 and 1998 before being cancelled by Fox. The series ended on an unresolved cliffhanger whereby Madame Web offered to help Spider-Man find the real Mary Jane after getting duped by a clone. Their reunion on X-Men '97 confirms that Peter did indeed find MJ.
#xmen97 yes, Peter Parker found MJ
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 15, 2024
The first season of X-Men '97 ends with plenty of tantalizing teasers of its own, setting up potential storylines with a long-time X-Men villain, but Winderbaum has asked fans to be "patient" as Marvel works on Season 2.
X-Men '97 and Spider-Man: The Animated Series are available to stream on Disney+.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.
