Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 season 2, episodes 1-4
Ten years ago, 2016 should have been a major moment for En Sabah Nur aka Apocalypse, one of Marvel’s greatest supervillains of all time. Instead, Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse movie became one of the more divisive movies of the 2010s. Played by Oscar Isaac in his first-ever Marvel role, it’s actually quite remarkable that his challenging experience playing the character and the negative reception didn’t keep him away from future superhero roles. Thankfully, we now have multiple projects like X-Men ’97 to give Apocalypse some much-needed redemption.
Although Oscar Isaac’s casting as Apocalypse was fairly well received ahead of the movie’s release, the film never fully captured what has made En Sabah Nur one of Marvel’s most compelling threats, a major missed opportunity for Fox’s now-defunct franchise.
Ten years later, things are looking much brighter for the character. 2026 has become a pretty big year for Apocalypse, largely thanks to Marvel Studios’ critically acclaimed X-Men ’97 revival series, which is currently in the middle of its second season. However, the animated series isn’t the only new Marvel project doing exciting things with En Sabah Nur this year, either.
2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse Was A Very Underwhelming Marvel Debut For Oscar Isaac
Ahead of the 2016 movie’s release, the announcement that Oscar Isaac had been cast as a live-action Apocalypse was met with lots of excitement. Isaac had already established himself as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and entertaining actors, especially with recent releases like Ex Machina and The Force Awakens. On paper, it was looking like a perfect match.
Unfortunately, X-Men: Apocalypse was met with several criticisms upon its release, with many of them centered on Apocalypse’s appearance, looking far too small compared to the much larger and imposing Apocalypse seen on the page, while also being overly reliant on bulky prosthetics. Overall, Isaac’s Apocalypse lacked the physical larger-than-life presence many were expecting.
Additionally, significant parts of the lore and canonical mythology behind Apocalypse from the comics were watered down to something far less dynamic, as the live-action version was focused more on basic world domination, lacking much of the nuance seen on the page. Likewise, En Sabah Nur’s chosen Horsemen lacked meaningful dimensions as well.
While the movie hinted at some of the concepts seen in the comics, like Apocalypse’s “survival of the fittest” philosophy, it was never explored to a meaningful degree where audiences could fully connect or resonate with his motivations as they would a couple of years later with the MCU’s Thanos and his goal of “saving” the universe by removing half of all life in Avengers: Infinity War.
Behind the scenes, Isaac himself later admitted the extensive makeup process made performing difficult, limiting his movement and facial expressions. Despite those obstacles, many viewers still praised his vocal performance and commitment to the role, suggesting he was doing the best he could with the material he had.
Fortunately, Isaac’s Marvel career didn’t end there. He went on to earn widespread acclaim as Marc Spector in *Moon Knight*, delivering one of the MCU’s strongest performances. He also became a fan favorite as Miguel O’Hara in *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse*, proving once again that his talent was never in question. That’s ultimately what makes *X-Men: Apocalypse* so frustrating in hindsight. The casting was excellent, but the script and execution simply weren’t able to capitalize on everything Isaac brought to the role.
2026’s X-Men ’97 Season 2 Has Debuted The Apocalypse Oscar Isaac Deserved To Play
If X-Men: Apocalypse simplified En Sabah Nur’s mythology, X-Men ’97 has done the exact opposite. Season 2 dives headfirst into the character’s ancient origins, adapting one of the most beloved comic storylines surrounding the First Mutant.
Instead of immediately presenting Apocalypse as an unstoppable conqueror, the series first explores the man he once was. The time-displaced X-Men arrive in Ancient Egypt, where Magneto attempts to guide the young En Sabah Nur toward Charles Xavier’s dream of peaceful coexistence rather than the philosophy of survival of the fittest.
Just as importantly, X-Men ’97 allows Apocalypse’s transformation to unfold over multiple episodes instead of compressing everything into a single opening sequence. Seeing En Sabah Nur struggle with Magneto’s guidance, wrestle with impossible decisions, and gradually lose faith in humanity gives his eventual rise far more emotional weight. Rather than simply telling audiences why Apocalypse became who he is, the series lets viewers experience that journey alongside him.
That approach gives Apocalypse genuine emotional complexity. Rather than being evil simply because the plot requires it, viewers witness the tragedies, betrayals, and difficult choices that gradually shape him into the immortal villain fans know from the comics.
The series also embraces Marvel’s larger mythology. Celestials, Rama-Tut, ancient mutant history, and Apocalypse’s connection to cosmic powers all receive meaningful attention, making his rise feel appropriately epic. Visually, his design is far closer to the comics as well, complete with imposing armor, incredible size, and an unmistakable sense of power.
It’s also a reminder of how well animation can adapt comic books when creators aren’t afraid to embrace their larger mythology. Ancient Egypt, Celestials, time travel, mutant history, and cosmic technology all fit naturally within the story instead of feeling overwhelming. That’s exactly the kind of scope Apocalypse has always deserved, and it’s difficult not to imagine how compelling Oscar Isaac could have been in a similarly faithful adaptation.
Watching this version unfold only reinforces how incredible Oscar Isaac could have been with material this faithful. His commanding voice, emotional range, and ability to portray layered antagonists would have been perfectly suited for the more tragic, philosophical Apocalypse audiences are now seeing in X-Men ’97.
Apocalypse’s Redemption Isn’t Just Happening In X-Men ’97 (There’s Also Marvel Rivals)
Animation isn’t the only place Apocalypse is thriving in 2026. Marvel Rivals has also elevated the character into one of its biggest ongoing storylines, giving him an appropriately cosmic role worthy of Marvel’s oldest mutant.
Season 9 of Marvel Rivals places Apocalypse at the center of a massive conflict involving Earth’s gods. Seeking ultimate evolution, he constructs a faith-stealing engine capable of draining divine power itself, allowing him to grow even stronger. It’s an ambitious storyline that fully embraces Apocalypse’s obsession with survival, ascension, and proving himself worthy above all others.
Even after his apparent murder at the beginning of the season, Apocalypse’s influence continues driving the narrative, emphasizing just how important he is to Marvel’s universe. Rather than serving as a disposable villain, he’s once again portrayed as one of the franchise’s defining power players.
The timing couldn’t be better, either. With X-Men ’97 bringing Apocalypse back into the spotlight and Marvel Rivals introducing him to an entirely new audience of players, Marvel is effectively rebuilding the villain’s reputation across multiple forms of media. After years of many casual fans primarily associating him with Fox’s disappointing film, these newer portrayals remind audiences why Apocalypse has remained one of Marvel’s premier villains since his comic debut in 1986.
New episodes of X-Men ’97 season 2 release Wednesdays on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.