It's a golden era for X-Men fans. With X-Men '97 Season 2 currently streaming and the highly anticipated Marvel's Wolverine game launching soon, there's no shortage of mutant mayhem. But one of the most exciting developments is the return of a classic voice from the '90s animated series.
Randall Carpenter, who voiced Mystique in the original X-Men: The Animated Series, is back for Season 3 of X-Men '97. At a recent FAN EXPO Canada panel, Carpenter shared the surprising story of how she landed the role again—she didn't even know she was auditioning for Mystique.
“I called my agent about a month before all this happened and said, 'I think I'd like to get back in action,'” Carpenter revealed. “A little while after that I got an audition—nobody was attached to it, they weren't saying what it was, there were all these made-up names. But there was something familiar about the words, this attitude. I thought, okay, I'll do it. I didn't hear anything for a while—and then I got a call saying, 'Welcome back, Mystique.'”
The Season 2 finale teased Mystique's return when she killed Valerie Cooper, setting the stage for a major role in Season 3. Carpenter's comeback is a treat for longtime fans who remember her iconic performance from the '90s.
A Different Recording Experience
Carpenter also discussed how voice recording has changed since the original series. “In the first series we did everything together—it was theatrical, we were all in it together,” she said. “This time you're by yourself. Most of us are scattered around the world now.” Modern technology allows actors to record from home, but Carpenter admitted it's a different vibe.
Still, slipping back into Mystique felt natural. “I'm like a shapeshifter. I like to shift into any opportunity that presents itself,” she said. “I've been doing voice work for a long time, and you don't forget—it's like getting back onto a horse.”
Voice director Meredith Layne was thrilled with Carpenter's audition. “I did a Zoom call with Meredith, our great voice director, and she said, 'Wow—when I listened to your audition, I got goosebumps because you sounded exactly the same.' That sealed the deal [for me].”
With Mystique poised to play a major part in Season 3 and possibly Season 4 (already confirmed for 2028), fans have plenty to look forward to. X-Men '97 Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Disney+, and Season 3 is expected next year.
For more on the X-Men universe, check out our ranking of Stephen King's Randall Flagg novels—a different kind of shapeshifter. And if you're into supernatural mysteries, don't miss this exclusive preview of a ghost arm made of angry ghosts.
