Warning: SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 season 4, episode 4 are ahead!The tragic twist in X-Men ’97 season 2’s latest episode almost unfolded differently.
At the end of “Rise of Apocalypse Part 2,” Magneto was killed by Apocalypse after stopping Rama-Tut’s city from being completely destroyed by a black hole created by the freshly-transformed En Sabah Nur. It was a shocking moment reminiscent of when Gambit died on Genosha halfway through X-Men ’97 season 1. However, according to Matthew Waterston, who voices Magneto, his character’s death was originally going to be depicted in a slightly less shocking manner.
Waterston informed Collider that he learned Magneto would be killed off in X-Men ’97 season 2 as he was recording season 1. So, by the time he read the “Rise of Apocalypse Part 2” script, he wasn’t “caught flat-footed” and had a “general sense of how it would happen” after speaking with former showrunner Beau de Mayo. Waterson recalled that the demise was originally “a bit more out of sight,” but then it was decided to go more graphic with the scene, with Professor X as a witness. As the actor explained:
But, I think the thinking was, in terms of ‘show, don’t tell,’ that letting Charles actually see what happens — have him experience it — was important for that character. So, when I first recorded it, the end of the fight was a little different. It wasn’t as clear and in-your-face, not as much of a ‘watch this’ moment — it was left a little more nebulous, and you were basing what happened more on Charles’ reaction to it. It became much more direct over time.
Though Magneto saved many of the people being ruled over by Rama-Tut, who was revealed to be the time-traveling villain Kang the Conqueror, he was gravely injured in the process. As such, Erik “Magnus” Lensherr was unable to fight back against Apocalypse when he returned to the scene, and Professor X watched in horror as his longtime friend was vaporized by their towering foe. The only thing left behind was Magneto’s helmet, which Xavier took with him when Bishop returned to Ancient Egypt and transported him back to the 1990s.
With all the surviving time-displaced X-Men back in their present, the stage is set for the next battle with Apocalypse. While the death of Waterston’s Magneto is a huge loss, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the last viewers have seen of him. Much like how Gambit’s resurrection was seemingly teased in the X-Men ’97 season 1 finale, it’s possible the Marvel Studios show could bring him back to life at some point. For now, though, there’s enough to keep the X-Men busy, including potential conflicts with teams like X-Factor and X-Force.
Five episodes remain in X-Men ’97 season 2, which are released Wednesdays on Disney+. Season 3 is currently in production for the upcoming Marvel TV shows slate, season 4 scripts were being written as of this past May, and there have been discussions about making season 5.