Mar 13
Queer Creator of Animated 'X-Men' Revamp Axed Just Before New Series Starts
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The return of the classic animated "X-Men" series from the 1990s – retitled "X-Men '97," and featuring the voices of several of the original cast – is only a week away from its premiere on Disney+, but the show's queer creator, Beau DeMayo, was abruptly axed by Marvel Studios.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "early last week, Marvel and DeMayo suddenly parted ways. His company email was deactivated and cast and crew were informed he was no longer on the project. DeMayo's Instagram account, once a source for X-Men updates, was deleted" – and, along with it, "shirtless pictures of himself at the gym" that his fans had thrilled to.
"For a time he also ran a non-explicit Only Fans account," THR noted.
What bearing on his departure his social media activity might have had, if any, remains unknown. "No reason for the firing was given," the entertainment news outlet detailed.
DeMayo took on "X-Men '97" in late 2021, which generated "excitement," THR recalled, "as the scribe brought his identity as a gay Black man to the project, and made it a point in talking to the press about how growing up as the adopted son to white parents with a Korean sister in the South made the X-Men characters – and their struggles for acceptance by society – feel personal to him."
DeMayo's work for Marvel included other projects like last year's live-action Oscar Isaac-starring "Moon Knight," as well as a rebooted "Blade" movie.
DeMayo's sudden departure took place despite him having stuck with the project through a delay prompted by last year's dual strikes, which postponed its premiere until now. He served as the writer and executive producer for "X-Men '97" and had finished writing the show's second season. He was reportedly "discussing loose ideas for a third season with members of his team," THR said, before his shockingly abrupt exit.
The show will enjoy a special premiere in Los Angeles today ahead of next week's Disney+ debut, when it will be on the small screen once again for the first time in 27 years. But don't expect DeMayo to attend the proceedings.
"Splitting with writers is a normal part of business for Marvel or any studio," THR noted. "However, it is unusual for a top creative on a Marvel project to miss a premiere or cancel press plans last minute, even if they've been shuffled to the side."
Deadline noted that the show's cast "includes Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, JP Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
