‘X-Men ‘97’ Executive Producer Has a Clear Message for Marvel’s Live-Action Reboot, and It’s Not About the Powers

Marvel Studios has spent years building anticipation for its long-promised return of the X-Men to the big screen, and with a director, writers, and now key casting finally in place, the project is edging closer to reality. As excitement builds around the reboot, longtime voices within the franchise’s history are starting to weigh in with exactly what they hope the new film gets right.

Few people carry more credibility on that front than Eric and Julia Lewald, the husband-and-wife team who helped shape the beloved 1990s ‘X-Men: The Animated Series‘ before returning decades later to consult on Marvel’s acclaimed revival, ‘X-Men ’97.’ Their connection to the property spans over three decades, giving their perspective on the upcoming live-action reboot particular weight within the fan community.

Speaking with Collider, Julia Lewald offered a pointed piece of advice for whoever ultimately shapes Marvel’s live-action take on the mutant team, emphasizing that flashy abilities should never overshadow the characters’ emotional cores. “Superpowers are spectacular. Super mutations… oh, that’s so cool; she can fly, or throw a building… but it’s the internal stuff,” she said. “It’s the humanity inside, and each of them has their own genuine reasons to be unhappy with what’s happened to them in their lives, yet they all still choose to become a found family and be together.”

That found-family dynamic, according to Julia, has always functioned as the franchise’s real superpower, one that’s kept fans emotionally invested across decades of comics, animated series, and films regardless of how the mutant abilities themselves were depicted on screen.

Eric Lewald offered a complementary piece of advice during the same conversation, directing his comments more specifically at the reboot’s creative team. He cautioned against the temptation to dramatically reinvent established characters simply to leave a personal creative stamp on the franchise, arguing that authenticity matters far more than bold reinterpretation.

Lewald elaborated further on that philosophy in comments shared with CinemaBlend, framing the challenge facing any creative team handed beloved intellectual property. “You want to challenge the characters, but you can’t change them,” he said. “You have to be true to them. That’s the core of all storytelling.”

He noted that fans have grown up with these characters across generations, often watching alongside their own parents and now sharing that same experience with their children, making fidelity to the source material considerably more valuable than dramatic overhauls made purely for creative distinction.

Marvel has already assembled key pieces of the reboot’s creative team, with Jake Schreier attached to direct and Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo handling screenplay duties. Casting has also begun coming together, with Kit Connor recently confirmed to play Cyclops, the team’s longtime leader, marking one of the first major roles locked in for the project.

The Lewalds’ advice arrives at a moment when expectations for the reboot are running especially high, given both the franchise’s complicated big-screen history under 20th Century Fox and the continued success of ‘X-Men ’97’ in proving that faithful, character-driven storytelling still resonates strongly with audiences. Their comments suggest a hope that Marvel’s live-action approach leans into that same emotional foundation rather than chasing spectacle for its own sake.

With so much of the reboot’s direction still under wraps, fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see whether Marvel heeds this kind of guidance from voices so closely tied to the franchise’s legacy. For a team of characters built around resilience, found family, and internal struggle, getting that emotional core right may ultimately matter more than any single action sequence.

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