Two ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Icons Are Behind X-Men ’97 Season 2’s Most Powerful Characters

X-Men ’97 Season 2 cast two Star Trek: The Next Generation veterans in pivotal roles, who appeared in the first three episodes aired on July 1. Gates McFadden, who spent seven seasons as Dr. Beverly Crusher aboard the Enterprise, voices Mother Askani. Meanwhile, John de Lancie, forever beloved as the reality-bending Q, plays the mysterious Pharaoh, Rama-Tut.

The X-Men team, who are sent to the future, meet Mother Askani, a powerful hooded figure who is taking care of Nathan Summers in 3960 and uses the team and Nathan to fulfill a prophecy to stop Apocalypse. The team, who are sent to the past, meet En Sabah Nur, and they only hear about Nur’s big adversary, the despotic ruler known as Rama-Tut. Viewers get a glimpse of what this character can do at the end of the third episode.

These two actors aren’t the only Star Trek alums in this season of X-Men ’97. Another popular TNG star, Michael Dorn, who was behind the Enterprise’s resident Klingon security chief Worf, voices the role of Baal. He is the adoptive father and mentor of young En Sabah Nur.

The connection between Star Trek and X-Men started long before this Marvel animated series. The biggest link of them all was Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, two vital figures in the respective franchises.

Gates McFadden and John de Lancie’s X-Men ’97 Characters’ Powers, Explained

X-Men ’97 Season 2 wastes no time proving both characters are forces to be reckoned with. The premiere picks up right after the Season 1 finale’s cliffhanger, with the X-Men scattered across two different points in time following their battle with Bastion.

We learn that this split-time travel wasn’t random. Mother Askani deliberately pulled the team through the timestream, dropping them at two turning points in Apocalypse’s history in hopes of stopping him for good. That kind of power makes her one of the god-tier characters in the show.

Some viewers also recognized Askani’s secret identity. She is an older version of Rachel Summers, who carries a connection to the Phoenix Force. She has telepathic and empathic abilities, and her telekinesis is strong enough to bend time and reality across timelines.

John de Lancie’s Rama-Tut is just as formidable, if far more sinister. He is introduced as ruling over ancient Egypt with technology centuries ahead of its time. And he shows his full power in the third episode when he destroys En Sabah Nur’s secret hideout from his palace.

We know that he is secretly a variant of Kang the Conqueror. He showed his Kang powers to Charles through Logos’s mind in the series. He is responsible for shaping En Sabah Nur’s rise toward becoming Apocalypse

Other Voice Actors Who Joined X-Men ’97 Season 2

A still from X-Men ’97 Season 2 | Credits: Disney+

Alongside its Star Trek additions, Season 2 brings back nearly all of its acclaimed principal cast. Ray Chase and Jennifer Hale return as Cyclops and Jean Grey, now stranded in a devastated future. Alison Sealy-Smith’s Storm and Isaac Robinson-Smith’s Bishop reunite in the first episode.

Cal Dodd is back as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, J.P. Karliak as Morph, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Gui Agustini as Sunspot, and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler. Matthew Waterson and Ross Marquand also reprise Magneto and Professor X.

New to the main roster is Carolina Ravassa as Polaris, the former X-Men member who is now part of X-Factor. Chris Potter plays Nathan Summers/Cable, and Adetokumboh M’Cormack takes on the role of En Sabah Nur. With such a star-studded voice cast, X-Men ’97 Season 2 has already started getting positive reviews, with FandomWire’s Callie Hana rating the sequel a solid 9/10.

What do you think of the iconic voice cast of this series? Let us know in the comments below!

The first three episodes of X-Men ’97 Season 2 are now available for streaming on Disney+.