Key Takeaways:
– The original cast of X-Men: The Animated Series was brought back for X-Men ‘97.
– Rogue and Wolverine voice actors, Lenore Zann and Cal Dodd, had to re-audition for their roles.
– Gambit actor A.J. LoCascio shared his unique audition process for X-Men ’97.
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X-Men ’97, the much-awaited continuity of the highly revered X-Men: The Animated Series, has been a nostalgic trip for all Marvel enthusiasts thanks to Marvel chief, Kevin Feige. Under the precise guidance of Feige, the creators left no stone unturned to revive the nostalgia by bringing back the original cast of the Fox animated series.
Lenore Zann and Cal Dodd’s Return to X-Men ’97
In a shocking revelation, Lenore Zann and Cal Dodd, who reprised their roles as Rogue and Wolverine respectively, disclosed they had to undergo the audition process once again. Despite Feige’s insistence on bringing back the original voice cast of the Fox series, the seasoned actors had to re-audition.
The duo opened up about their audition experience in an interview with IGN alongside the show’s ensemble. Dodd recounted his surprise at the scene selected for his audition, while Zann affirmed they were lines from the original series. She shared her excitement when the producers expressed their love for her and officially asked her to be part of the show.
Their affirmation sealed the deal and fans, as well as critics, welcomed X-Men ’97 and their performances with open arms.
Gambit Actor A.J. LoCascio Shares His Audition Experience
A.J. LoCascio’s shared intriguing details of his audition process. Reprising as Gambit for X-Men ’97 was like a childhood dream come true for LoCascio. As a child, he used to mimic the voices of Wolverine and Gambit, telling IGN “These voices live in my head.”
LoCascio excitedly narrated how he ignored 19 other voices at the audition and put all his energy into Gambit, a role he was zealous about, in spite of the auditioning norm suggesting otherwise. He also shared his effort to maintain authentic terms and accents while bridging the gap from the roles wheelchair of Chris Potter (1992–1996) and Tony Daniels (1997).
His dedication bore fruit as fans appreciated LoCascio’s portrayal of the charismatic mutant.
X-Men ’97 is currently streaming on Disney+, receive unprecedented love from fans worldwide. With Kevin Feige’s strategic decision to recast the original voices, X-Men ’97 has successfully transported fans back into the ’90s, recreating the same excitement and nostalgia. Despite the surprises that came along with the recasting process, including Zann, Dodd, and LoCascio’s unexpected auditions, the public response proves that it was worth every effort.
