‘X-Men ’97’ Interview: Supervising Producer Jake Castorena

Premiering on Disney+ March 20th is the new animated series ‘X-Men ’97,’ which is a continuation of the popular ‘90’s cartoon ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ and features many of the original voice actors reprising their iconic roles.

Related Article: Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and Co. Return in the ‘X-Men ’97’ Trailer

‘X-Men ’97’ supervising producer and head director Jake Castorena.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with supervising producer and head director Jake Castorena about the new series, continuing the original series’ storylines, matching the animation to the original, and the importance of having the original voice actors return.

You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

(L to R) Morph (voiced by JP Karliak), Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith), Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase), Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann), Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd), Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith), Beast (voiced by George Buza) in Marvel Animation’s ‘X-Men ’97.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about developing this new series, continuing storylines from the original, and the challenges of matching the animation to the first series?

Jake Castorena: Awesome. Great question. Luckily a lot of that stuff was figured out well before I was brought on board from the story bible and the inceptions of the script from day one, from Beau Demayo’s vision and working in tandem with Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum and Dana Vasquez Everhart. They had already figured out where the parameters were for the sound box, for the show, where the show needs to start, and where it needs to pick up from. I was brought in to help work on where the visual parameters of the sound box were to work in tandem with the story. So how true it is that the writing just needs to evoke the ’90s nostalgia as well as understanding the characters and conveying these emotions and these themes and carrying that feeling across. Same responsibility must come in the visual because unfortunately we can’t put a script on screen. The audience is here to hear and feel those words on those stories, but they want to see the X-Men. So, the rest of our in-house team and I were tasked with what does that look like? What does that feel like? Where are those parameters and just what is too clean? What is too HD? What is too aged? What is too filmed like on a potato? Where is the fresh but familiar? Where is the show that we know and love and the show that we remember, right? The show that we feel. But also finding that delicate balance of what coworkers, friends, and peers are doing in the industry right now with the medium and just elevating animation. Not only that, but further showing that animation isn’t just a children’s medium, it’s another way to tell stories. So, with that, going in tandem with that and going, “Oh, okay, we must still be relevant and want to be watched along with that, but we also have to fit into the sound box of the ’90s and ground us a little bit.” So, finding that delicate balance and that visual challenge, that’s been honestly some of the most fun work that I’ve ever had the privilege to do on a show. I’ve gotten to do a lot of fun stuff, to be frank. Shout out to our whole in-house team from our production design and art director to our in-house animation lead and his team, and our in-house comp team. They help bring the finishing touches strong and that’s, when you watch the show, you go, “This feels like the OG show.” Not to make a bad pun, but it’s an uncanny valley. It’s uncanny, right? That is all meticulously worked on and thought up from day one until we executed day 9,748.

(L to R) Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann), Jubilee (voiced by Holly Chou), Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith), Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd), Beast (voiced by George Buza), Morph (voiced by JP Karliak), and Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith) in Marvel Animation’s ‘X-Men ’97.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.

MF: Finally, can you talk about the importance of having many of the original voice actors reprise their roles in this new series?

JC: Well, again, that was one of those decisions that was just kind of already made. Once they knew they were going to make the show, it’s kind of a no-brainer. If you want to make a continuation, you must get the cast to continue. So, with that, it was more about are they available? Do they want to come back and play? That’s what was cool because yes, it was awesome! Look it’s been 30 years, right? Time is fickle. It hits us all. So, some of the voice actors are no longer with us, and they leave big shoes to fill. First and foremost, I am proud of our new cast stepping into these roles that they know are monuments to these characters that people know and love. I think they’re knocking it out of the park. Not only that, but to get the blessing from the legacy cast on them has been nothing short of just awesome and quite honestly brought a tear to my eye. It’s like, “Oh, that’s so great.” How do you have X-Men without Rogue’s syrupy thick accent? Again, to that point, those who were still game and wanted to come back and do the voices and who could still do the voices, we brought back to play. Those who were game, and again, it’s been 30 years, some vocal quality doesn’t keep sometimes, it’s just time. Those who still wanted to come back and play with us, we found they were given other roles to be able to come in and still play with the sound box because it is about acknowledging the work and the people that came before us. So just to get to have everybody come in and play as much as we could, that’s just been a dream come true.

(L to R) Beast (voiced by George Buza), Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann), Morph (voiced by JP Karliak), Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase), Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd), Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), and Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith) in Marvel Animation’s ‘X-Men ’97.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.

What is the Plot of ‘X-Men ‘97’?

Picking up after the events of ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ (1992–1997), the X-Men face dangerous new challenges following the loss of their leader, Professor X (Ross Marquand).

Who is in the Cast of ‘X-Men ‘97’?

‘X-Men ’97,’ exclusively on Disney+. © 2024 MARVEL.

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