X-Men '97 season 2 and the live-action Masters of the Universe both launched in 2026 as nostalgia plays targeting fans of classic animated properties. Both are packed with Easter eggs. Both were made by people who clearly know the source material.
But one of them is working and the other is not. The Verge's argument is that the gap between them comes down to a single specific quality, not budget, not IP strength, not cast. That distinction is what makes this piece worth reading past the premise.
The full article names exactly what X-Men '97 has that Masters of the Universe is missing, and it uses both properties as a case study for why nostalgia alone is not a strategy. If you are tracking how studios are handling legacy animation revivals in 2026, this is a useful data point.
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