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In a drastic move, Marvel shockingly fired theX-Men ’97creator Beau DeMayo on the eve of his project’s debut. Despite being in the midst of a particularly busy time at Marvel Studios, DeMayo was suddenly laid off after his company email was deactivated and his colleagues were informed about his exit from the project.
While Marvel Studios’ decision to fire Beau DeMayo has sent shockwaves through the fandom, this move doesn’t seemingly compare to Fox’s measures in the 1990s. According to reports, in a surprising twist of fate, Fox had taken a critical decision regarding the belovedX-Men: The Animated Seriesand its crew that still blows people’s minds.
Marvel Surprisingly Fired Beau DeMayo Ahead ofX-Men ’97Release
Premiered on July 13, 2025, with its first two episodes,X-Men ’97soon took over the internet and created a massive fanbase for itself. Earning global popularity, much like its predecessorX-Men: The Animated Series, the 2024 Marvel show garnered positive reviews and turned into a critically acclaimed series.
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But unfortunately, the creator ofX-Men ’97, Beau DeMayo failed to celebrate his success under Marvel Studios. According to reports fromTHR, the showrunner was fired from his position in a surprising turn of events, ahead of his show’s premiere. Marvel informed that the writer-producer, who previously worked onMoon Knightwill no longer be promotingX-Men ’97, or moving forward with future seasons.
Despite planning on attending the animated show’s Hollywood premiere on March 13, and even discussing loose ideas for a third season with members of his team,Beau DeMayowas shockingly fired without proper reasoning. DeMayo’s company email was deactivated and even his Instagram account, once a source for X-Men updates, was deleted.
Neither Marvel Studios nor Beau Demayo’s representatives commented on the surprising turn of events. Thereafter, theshowrunner’s sudden layoffwith no apparent reason sparked outrage among fans. However, on a recent note, while DeMayo’s dismissal sent shockwaves through the internet, Marvel’s move doesn’t appear as surprising as the drastic measures once taken by Fox.
Beau DeMayo’s Lay-Off Seems Pale Compared to Fox’s Drastic Step
According toAssembled: The Making of X-Men ’97showrunner Eric Lewald and his wife Julia Lewald viaCollider, the duo opened up about how Fox had almost jeopardized the future ofX-Men: The Animated Series.As per the Lewalds, Fox had fired the entire staff of the 1990s show, after that team created Season 1.
The folks [above] didn’t believe X-Men was going to do anything.Julia Lewald shared.
The entire creative staff was let go in July, August when we finished our work. And then in January when it premiered, suddenly it was this big number one hit. Eric Lewald noted.
Ahead of the release ofX-Men: The Animated Series, much likeX-Men ’97, Fox had assumed that the show wouldn’t become a hit. This particular thought thus forced the studio to fire the entire team of creative professionals, despite their devotion towards the project. Fox’s drastic measure effectively canceled the show before it even aired.
“I have high hopes”: X-Men ‘97 Fans Can Find Solace for Season 2 After Beau DeMayo’s Statement Despite Confirming He is Not Returning Back
As per showrunner Eric Lewald and his wife Julia Lewald, Fox executives apparently had no faith in the daring product, since these cartoon ventures weren’t taken seriously. Therefore, Fox compromised with a 13-episode season and tried to avoid a major failure. However, to the studio’s surprise,X-Men: The Animated Seriesturned into an unprecedented hit.
As the series’ unique tone and style resonated with audiences worldwide,X-Men: The Animated Serieswitnessed global success, which forced Fox to rehire as many team members as possible. Thereafter, the studio greenlightedThe Animated Seriesfor 65 episodes, and the long-standing animated series left an indelible mark on theX-Menfranchise.
X-Men: The Animated SeriesandX-Men ’97are available on Disney+.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3219
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
