After X-Men '97 seemingly killed off Gambit in Season 1 only to bring the fan-favorite Cajun back in Season 2, fans are naturally taking Nightcrawler's death with a heavy dose of skepticism.
But series producer Eric Lewald is saying that Kurt Wagner's exit is final.
Speaking to The Direct [via Bleeding Cool], Lewald stated that Nightcrawler's tragic death is intended to be permanent but the show earned it, commenting, "Oh yeah! But the finale of Season 2 is very emotional, and it's earned. It is earned because those are the characters that we've all spent 30 years marinating in, and thinking of, and loving."
He went on to add, "And because of the personal relationships among the ones that are in jeopardy, and the one that ends up having to pay the price, it just… it fits. It fits, and again, we can't take credit for that story twist. The guys, you know, Matt Chauncey and the people doing the writing made that choice, but we think it's a perfect choice."
It was previously revealed that it was Nightcrawler who was originally slated to die in X-Men 97 season 1, not Gambit, so in a way, the show is simply undergoing a bit of course correction as they get back to some of the initial plans and concepts.
Plus, Nightcrawler's death just functionally makes the X-Men 97 creative team's job a little easier, as teleportation is widely considered one of the hardest powers to manage in any sort of action storytelling format because, without strict limitations, it instantly breaks standard plot tension. Standard plot devices such as retrieving a bomb, escaping a collapsing building, or sneaking past guards all become trivial with such an ability.
Heading into season 3, the Season 2 post-credits scene seems to be a clear indication of where the show is headed as it completely reshaped the show's political landscape.
While anti-mutant politician Graydon Creed won the presidency, his administration is secretly compromised now that Mystique has killed Val Cooper and assumed her persona.
At SDCC 2026, producers confirmed Season 3 will also mark the revival's first appearance of classic Brotherhood of Mutants members, including Toad, Pyro, Blob, Avalanche, and Surge.
Expect all of these plotlines to converge with the emotional aftermath of Magneto's death at the hands of Apocalypse.
X-Men ’97 Season 2 continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home. Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men’s absence.
From executive producers Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, Larry Houston, and Beau DeMayo.
The voice cast includes Ross Marquand, Matthew Waterson, Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, and George Buza.