X-Men '97 showrunner and head writer Beau DeMayo was fired by Marvel Studios without explanation. Now, a new report may provide insight into why DeMato was suddenly fired just before the X-Men '97 premiere date.

In addition to his work on X-Men '97, DeMayo had worked for Marvel Studios as a writer on Moon Knight and reportedly worked on drafts of Mahershala Ali's long-delayed Blade MCU reboot. He has completed writing X-Men '97 season 2 and was reportedly discussing ideas for a third season with the writing team, making his sudden firing more surprising to fans.

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Now, Jeff Sneider's The InSneider report may provide insight into Marvel Studios' decision to fire DeMayo from X-Men '97. According to Sneider's reporting, DeMayo was "an absolute nightmare to deal with on a daily basis." After DeMayo's firing was announced, fans speculated that his OnlyFans account was the reason for the sudden dismissal, as it likely wouldn't gel with Disney's family-friendly image. While this remains speculation, Sneider reports that Disney executives found his behavior on OnlyFans "creepy." It should be noted that, as of this writing, neither Marvel Studios nor DeMayo have publicly commented on the reason for the latter's firing.

X-Men '97 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated TV releases of March 2024. However, the firing of DeMayo will likely hang over the promotional tour, even if anyone involved in promoting the series won't address the subject during interviews. Some fans on the Marvel Studios subreddit page question whether having an OnlyFans is enough to justify firing a creator, especially since many claim DeMayo's content was reportedly non-explicit. Fans also doubt Marvel Studios wasn't aware of DeMayo's OnlyFans activity, as his account was reported on at least as early as 2022 (via Out).

The reason for DeMayo's firing will likely remain unknown until Marvel Studios or DeMayo provide an official explanation. While fans will continue to speculate, excitement for X-Men '97 has not diminished. The latest X-Men '97 trailer was well-received and only increased anticipation for the series, which is only the latest in a long line of developing animated shows from Marvel Studios.

While mutants have appeared in Marvel Studios projects since Disney acquired Fox, perhaps most notably when Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel was revealed to be a mutant in the character's solo series, a proper X-Men project has not been produced by Marvel Studios since they gained the screen right to the characters. Consequently, even though the creators involved with X-Men '97 have said it is a standalone project, many fans are curious to see if the series will become part of the MCU's expanding multiverse. Time will tell, but it's unlikely that any behind-the-scenes controversy will prevent most fans from tuning in.

X-Men '97 will premiere on Disney Plus on March 20, 2024.

X-Men '97

The animated X-Men team returns in the Disney Plus reboot, X-Men '97. With Professor X gone, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and the rest of the mutants find themselves under the leadership of Magneto and facing a new threat. X-Men '97 is the first project under the newly created Marvel Animation banner.

Release Date

March 20, 2024

Cast

Jennifer Hale , Ray Chase , Cal Dodd , Lenore Zann , George Buza

Seasons

1

Studio

Marvel Animation

Creator

Beau DeMayo

Number of Episodes

10

Streaming Service(s)

Disney Plus

Franchise(s)

X-Men

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Source: The InSneider