The latest episode of X-Men ’97 features surprising cameo from none other than the Watcher, the powerful cosmic being whose sole duty is to observe events across the multiverse without ever interfering. According to Comicbook, the Watcher aka Uatu, voiced by Jeffrey Wright (Dispatches, The Batman)—first appeared in the first season of What If…?, where he watches over countless alternate realities as their stories unfold, but along the way he has slowly started to deviate and intervene.
Reported by Comicbook, this cameo then transitions to Apocalypse, voiced by Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead, Avengers: Infinity War) who revives and transformed Gambit, voiced by AJ LoCascio (Voltron: Legendary Defender, Marvel Rivals) into one of the horsemen of Death. This important detail because the Watcher only observes anomalies that will have a major impact on the timeline, such as when Marvel Zombies conquered the Earth, or when the heartless Doctor Strange, voiced Benedict Cumberbatch (Good Omens, The Grinch) destroyed his own world in all to save the one he loved.
Later in the episode, audiences learn that Professor X, also voiced by Marquand, has established X-Corp, an organization created to honor the legacy of the late Magneto while continuing his lifelong fight for mutant rights and equality. According to Comicbook, the next episode is expected to focus on Gambit’s long-awaited revival. It will also feature the remaining members of the X-Men, including Rogue, voiced by Lenore Zann (Dragon Booster, Storm Hawks), as they react to the shocking return of their friend. Believed to have died, Gambit has returned as an enemy, leaving the team to question whether their friend is still somewhere within him.
With the second season coming to an end, the revival of Gambit has opened up the storyline for X-Men ’97’s third season, which could center around the rise and rule of Apocalypse. All current episodes and seasons of X-Men ’97 are available to stream on Disney+ and with three episodes left.