In a surprising and troubling turn of events, Beau DeMayo, the showrunner and executive producer of X-Men ’97, has been terminated just days before the highly anticipated series premiere on Disney+ on March 20. This is not a good look for the company, otherwise already controversial regarding its treatment of its creatives.
DeMayo, known for his work on Marvel’s Moon Knight and The Witcher, had established a significant presence within Marvel Studios. He had not only written for Disney+ series like Moon Knight but also contributed to the upcoming Blade film. The X-Men ’97 animated series would be the proverbial crowning achievement, given the buzz generated online by the recently released trailer for the show.
Although DeMayo had completed work on both Seasons 1 and 2 of X-Men ’97, he will not be involved in the promotional activities for the series. The absence of an official explanation for his termination is expected to generate inquiries during the upcoming press tour for the show.
In an unusual situation on the eve of a project's debut, #XMen97 writer-producer Beau DeMayo – who also worked on 'Moon Knight' and 'Blade' will no longer be promoting the show or moving forward with future seasons: https://t.co/f124zlGFHt pic.twitter.com/9GybG6ej15
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 12, 2024
This development, occurring so close to the premiere, is already raising eyebrows within the industry and the X-Men fan community. According to The Hollywood Reporter, DeMayo was actively preparing for interviews and the red carpet premiere of X-Men ’97 in Hollywood, scheduled for the following day prior to his dismissal.
The separation between DeMayo and Marvel Studios took place suddenly early last week, coinciding with the confirmation of the full cast and crew, as well as the list of titles for the first season’s episodes. DeMayo’s Instagram account, previously utilized for updates and interactions with fans, has been removed, leaving behind unanswered questions regarding the abrupt change.
Furthermore, DeMayo’s Instagram and non-explicit OnlyFans account have been deactivated, further deepening the mystery surrounding his departure. Some discussions on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit speculate that the reason for Marvel Studios sacking DeMayo is due to the aforementioned OnlyFans presence, which likely would not align with parent company Disney’s wholesome image.
Curiously, an X.com account recently surfaced that identifies the owner as Beau DeMayo which posted a cryptic tweet stating “Speech is silver, silence is golden.” However, there is no confirmation as to whether this is the former X-Men ’97 showrunner’s actual account.
Speech is silver, silence is golden.
— Beau DeMayo (@beau_demayo) March 12, 2024
X-Men ’97 serves as a continuation of the narrative from the iconic ’90s series, X-Men: The Animated Series, featuring the return of several original voice actors, including Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, and Cal Dodd as Wolverine.
X-Men: The Animated Series helped the Marvel mutants gain mainstream attention and pushed Hollywood interest for the production of the live action films. With less than a week from X-Men ’97’s streaming debut on Disney+, a new trailer dropped showcasing the “New Age” and with brief interviews of the returning voice cast.
Set more than three decades after the original series finale, the storyline picks up with Professor Charles Xavier presumed dead, leaving Magneto to inherit his legacy. The X-Men return with an updated roster that adds Bishop, Sunspot, and a redesigned Morph to confront new adversaries in a world fraught with fear and mistrust of mutantkind.
Despite the unexpected setback, X-Men ’97 is still slated for its premiere on Disney+ with two episodes next week. As the premiere date approaches, the sudden departure of DeMayo leaves fans pondering the apparently messy behind-the-scenes dynamics of X-Men ’97. Will this unforeseen development impact the reception and future of the fan-favorite Marvel animated series?
