While the events of X-Men ’97 episode 5 suggest Cassandra Nova may be a threat in the animated series, another powerful villain has also been teased.

While Marvel Comics villain Cassandra Nova has been teased as a threat in X-Men ’97, the series has also been setting up another significant adversary for the X-Men team. X-Men ’97 has already introduced powerful villains, including Henry Gyrich, the X-Cutioner, Mister Sinister, Mojo and the Adversary, X-Men ’97 episode 5, “Remember It”, hinted at the machinations of Cassandra Nova by adapting Marvel Comics’ E is for Extinction event. Emma Corrin is set to debut as a live-action Cassandra Nova in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine in the MCU, but a different foe may have been set up for X-Men ’97.

Marvel Studios Animation’s X-Men ’97 is set outside the main timeline of the MCU, but may be about to introduce one of Phase 5’s most powerful upcoming villains. Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova will be appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine, posing a major threat to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in live-action. However, X-Men ’97’s adaptation of Marvel Comics’ E is for Extinction event, which saw Cassandra Nova orchestrate an attack on the mutant nation of Genosha, suggests she could also have a huge role to play in X-Men ’97, though she may not be the series’ overarching villain.

Cassandra Nova Isn’t X-Men ’97’s Primary Villain

Cassandra Nova debuted in Marvel Comics in 2001’s New X-Men #114, and quickly set plans in motion to use Sentinel robots to enact a genocide on the mutant nation of Genosha. This storyline formed the inspiration for X-Men ’97 episode 5, meaning that, while Cassandra Nova didn’t actually make an appearance, many have suspected she could be behind the attack in the animated series. However, X-Men ’97’s head director Jake Castorena suggested to Inverse that audiences shouldn’t “get [their] hopes up for Cassandra Nova being a huge villain,” but teased another powerful threat that may have already been set up.

I wouldn’t get my hopes up for Cassandra Nova being a huge villain in our show. But what I will say is, I don’t think people will be disappointed with our choices.

X-Men ’97 Has Already Teased Bastion As A Powerful Villain

Several moments in X-Men ’97’s first five episodes may have teased Marvel Comics’ Bastion as the series’ actual primary threat. Bastion made his first cameo appearance in 1996’s X-Men #52, introduced as the humanoid robot fusion of Master Mold and Nimrod, two Sentinels who birthed Bastion while traveling through the Siege Perilous. Bastion was raised as the human Sebastion Gilberti, but his life soon brought him into contact with anti-mutant groups such as the Friends of Humanity. This creates the perfect opportunity for Bastion to appear in X-Men ’97, and, in fact, he might have already made several brief appearances.

Bastion’s iconic black-and-pink costume from Marvel Comics is seen in a photograph on Forge’s refrigerator in X-Men ’97 episode 4, “Motendo/Lifedeath – Part 1.” This image suggested that Forge and Bastion have a prior relationship, which could become more important in X-Men ’97 episode 6, “Lifedeath – Part 2”. Some have also theorized that Bastion may have made an appearance at Magneto and Rogue’s inauguration gala in “Remember It,” and the fact that Cable suggested “he” is coming veers away from the idea that Cassandra Nova is the series’ primary villain, but creates the perfect opportunity for Bastion to debut.

What Role Could Bastion Play In X-Men ’97’s Three-Part Finale?

Bastion’s biggest Marvel Comics storyline could be hugely important to X-Men ’97’s record-breaking three-part finale. Marvel Comics’ Operation: Zero Tolerance may have inspired the title for X-Men ’97’s “Tolerance is Extinction”, Operation: Zero Tolerance saw Bastion escalate his plans for mutant extermination, as he orchestrated the transformation of humans into Prime Sentinels, humans fitted with cybernetic implants, which targeted mutants to kill. This would be a shocking and harrowing storyline for X-Men ’97 to explore, particularly after the intensity of the series’ recent episodes, but would mark a strong debut for Bastion and his crusade against X-Men ’97’s mutant heroes.

X-Men ’97 has been slowly building up to introducing Bastion as the series’ primary antagonist, with Forge’s photograph, a potential gala appearance, and Cable’s warning that “he” is coming laying the seeds for this powerful villain’s debut. X-Men ’97 has put a great deal of focus on the Friends of Humanity and the Sentinel robots, dating back to the series’ premiere episode, “To Me, My X-Men,” but Bastion may not have a direct role until the epic three-part finale. If this turns out to be true, “Tolerance is Extinction” may be the most dramatic ending in the X-Men’s animated history.