X-Men '97 showrunner reveals how the finale was inspired by Zack Snyder's Man of Steel

X-Men '97 episode 9 still
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

X-Men ‘97 showrunner Beau DeMayo has revealed he took inspiration from the Superman movie Man of Steel for one pivotal moment in the season 1 finale. 

The co-creator of the series recently took to Twitter to share the influence director Zack Snyder’s 2013 movie had on the moment when Rogue finally got her hands on Bastion. "I was likely subconsciously influenced by this when writing the X-Men '97 finale beat of Rogue punching Bastion," wrote DeMayo. "That's not Superman hammering Zod. It's Clark, a son furiously defending the woman who raised and protected him. The action is driven by emotion not plot. #manofsteel"

The scene DeMayo is referring to in Man of Steel is when Zod lands on Superman’s mother’s property and proceeds to threaten her, even holding her up by her neck and throwing her to the ground. In an emotional rage, Henry Cavill’s Superman hurtles towards Zod, picking him up and dragging him through corn fields while punching him, Saying "You think you can frighten my mother?" In this moment it is clear that this isn't the rational hero, but a loyal and protective Clark Kent who has snapped over someone threatening to hurt his mother. 

As anyone who watched all of X-Men '97 knows, Rogue hasn't had the best of times in the series. So, when she got the chance to face off with the X-Men villain, she let her feelings be known and her superhero agenda went out of the window for a moment, making way for her human emotions. But it felt like a pretty full circle moment, even if she didn't deliver the final blow. 

Fans were pretty stoked over the crossover, one even asked DeMayo if more of the show was influenced by DC movies: "You actually picked a lot of visuals from Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, right?" To which the showrunner replied, "I don't know if I’d say a lot, or if they were picked versus I’m influenced by things I love, and stuff seeps in via osmosis if that makes any sense."

The X-Men ‘97 finale was certainly one for the books, landing via three consecutive weekly episodes with Tolerance is Extinction Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. However, the adventure doesn't end there as the series has already been renewed for a second season and a third season. An official synopsis, cast list, or release date has yet to be released for X-Men ‘97 season 2 though.

X-Men ‘97 season 1 is available to stream on Disney Plus. For more, see our list of every Easter egg in X-Men ‘97 season 1 you may have missed. 

Editorial Associate, GamesRadar+

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.  

Read more
X-Men 97 season 2: a screenshot of all the mutants in the new Disney Plus series.
X-Men '97 season 2: Everything we know so far
Cyclops and the X-Men in X-Men '97
X-Men '97 season 3 just got an exciting update, even though we still don't know when season 2 will be on Disney Plus
X-Men '97 episode 10 still
Marvel exec teases what's next for the X-Men, including a movie in active development and "insane" X-Men '97 season 3 scripts
Superman surrounded by the exploding Krypton.
Absolute Superman #5 puts a devastating new spin on the Man of Steel's origin story
Superman
DC fans are saying the latest look at David Corenswet's Superman flying is what the controversial trailer should have looked like
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)
One of Deadpool and Wolverine's best fight scenes has been improved by a Marvel fan with a dream and serious editing skills
Latest in Superhero Shows
Debra Jo Rupp as Sharon in Agatha All Along
A quickly killed off Agatha All Along star thought she'd be a witch: "I get there and no one is really looking me in the eye"
Peacemaker
Peacemaker season 2 star says the show feels like the DCU's "cool kid" as it's one of James Gunn's "first babies": "I'm excited to see how that expands and grows"
Mark Grayson in Invincible season 3
Voice acting is "complete" on Invincible season 4, which is a major boost to its 2026 release plans
Jack Quaid and Jensen Ackles in The Boys
Soldier Boy-centred The Boys prequel adds two stars in mystery roles for the upcoming superhero show
Mark Grayson in Invincible season 3
Invincible creator reveals fan-favorite villain is already cast ahead of season 4: "He's amazing"
Mark Grayson in Invincible season 3
Invincible season 3 video shows just how well the Conquest fight was adapted from the comics
Latest in News
Pillars of Eternity
10 years later, in a post-Baldur's Gate 3 and Avowed world, Obsidian is giving its own throwback CRPG Pillars of Eternity a turn-based combat mode
Destiny 2 Lightfall
When Destiny 2 "weekly active users dropped lower and faster than we'd seen since 2018," Bungie assembled an A-Team to put out some fires: "We needed to do something"
Velma, Daphne, Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo looking at a giant key which is also a clue
Netflix is rebooting Scooby-Doo as a live-action series from the producer of Supergirl and The Flash centered around a "supernatural murder" at a summer camp
Astro Bot
Astro Bot went through 23 pitch iterations before its director promised PlayStation "happy gameplay" and "overflowing charm," though it did once end with robot decapitation that made "some people really upset"
Tomb Raider
5 years after Avengers, 2 years after its last layoffs, and who knows how long before Perfect Dark and Tomb Raider return, Crystal Dynamics announces another round of layoffs
AI Limit
"AI is not as effective as it might appear": Dev of AI-focused Soulslike RPG says they didn't use any AI-generated content and it can't match "genuine creativity"