X-Men '97 season 2 is almost over. Indeed, with just one episode remaining of the popular Marvel TV show's latest season, we'll soon be saying goodbye to the titular super-team until their animated series returns for its third instalment.
There's a great deal for this season's finale to wrap up, too. Will the comatose Remy win his battle of wills with Apocalypse? Does X-Force teaming up with X-Factor mean we should prepare ourselves for an almighty showdown between their combined forces and the X-Men? And how will this season's last chapter ultimately set the stage for X-Men '97 season 3?
I can't answer any of those questions yet β but, I can tell you when season 2 episode 9, titled 'Survival of the Fittest', will be released. So, read on to find out when it'll come out!
What is the launch time for X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9?
I'm not sure Rogue would be able to take losing Gambit for a second time... (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
The finale of X-Men '97's second season will make its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, August 12 at 12am PT / 3am ET.
That's the time it'll air in the US and Canada, anyway β for fans in the nations listed below, here's when it'll premiere on one of the world's best streaming services in your neck of the woods:
USΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 12am PT / 3am ET
CanadaΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 12am PT / 3am ET
UKΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 8am BST
IndiaΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 12:30pm IST
SingaporeΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 3pm SGT
AustraliaΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 5pm AEST
New ZealandΒ β Wednesday, August 12 at 7pm NZST
Does X-Men '97 season 3 have a release date yet?
We'll see Morph, Wolverine, Storm, and Forge again in X-Men '97 season 3 (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
No. However, Marvel's Head of TV, Animation, Streaming, and Comics Brad Winderbaum recently confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent TV show's third season will drop sometime in 2027. That follows Winderbaum previously stating that new seasons of the highly-rated cartoon will start to arrive every year from here on out.
Even so, I believe it'll be a long time before an official launch date is announced. There'll be plenty of opportunities for Marvel to reveal one before the end of 2026, with D23 Expo (14-16 August) and New York Comic-Con (8-11 October) traditionally being prime candidates for the comic giant to tease new details about upcoming seasons.
That said, Marvel usually doesn't unveil release dates for its TV shows until much closer to their actual launches, so I'd be amazed if we find out when the Marvel Phase 6 show's third season will premiere in the near future.
After falling in love with Disneyland Handcrafted, I was excited to dive into the studio's latest documentary movie, Disney Worldbuilders. Directed by Leslie Iwerks, the new movie has a tiny runtime of 58 minutes and call me greedy, but I really wanted more.
Disney Worldbuilders gets up-close-and-personal with some of Disney's most influential voices, where we learn about creative processes and their lasting impact on both cinema and the Disney Parks around the world.
Even though I loved what I saw, I did feel as though Worldbuilders tries to squeeze too much into its runtime. Unlike Handcrafted, which solely focuses on Walt's vision for Disneyland in Anaheim, this jumps around between subjects, and I wish we'd had an episode for each person interviewed so we could've taken a deeper dive.
The stacked line-up is made up of Bob Iger, James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush, and Josh DβAmaro. That's a lot of people to talk to in under an hour, so I really wish we'd had more time with all of them!
Bob Iger in particular deserves a documentary of his own, and I hope we get one so we can properly examine the huge impact he's had on the Walt Disney Company, because it's not to be sniffed at. His segments didn't seem to fit with the rest of the interviews.
Still, that doesn't mean Worldbuilders is not worth your time. Far from it, in fact; I think it gives some really valuable and inspiring insights from some of the biggest names across Disney properties like Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel, and it's hard not to smile when you're greeted with this footage.
Jennifer Lee and her sister have an emotional scene in Disney Worldbuilders. (Image credit: Disney)
The scale of the Disney Parks really is fascinating, and I liked how we were able to see the early days of areas such as Hollywood Studios' Galaxy's Edge and Animal Kingdomβs Pandora, especially how the directors of those movies responded to seeing their creations come to life. Now, fans get to walk through the worlds we see on screen, and the constant innovation going on across the global parks is jaw-dropping.
I found myself getting emotional during certain parts, particularly Jennifer Lee's reaction to World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris. Seeing her wandering around with Olaf and reflecting on her relationship with her sister is incredibly touching, given how Anna and Elsa are such inspirational figures to a lot of people out there.
Even though the interviews with each subject are short, we do get a lot of heartfelt anecdotes which I found to be very interesting. As someone who has been enamored with filmmaking from a young age, it's inspiring to see how these amazing creatives can help shape future attractions for all ages. In Worldbuilders, they reflect on their own childhoods and how they ended up working for one of the biggest media companies in the world.
Ultimately, this would have worked so much better in an episodic format because I could have happily watched eight hours of this, as opposed to the one hour we did get. I am hopeful that Disney will do more long-form Parks-focused documentaries like this, especially ones that talk to the creatives responsible for writing these worlds we know and love.
Disney is exploring a free Disney+ tier to bring more viewers into its streaming ecosystem
CEO Josh DβAmaro says a free offering could help drive subscriber growth
The idea is for Disney+ to become a broader digital hub beyond movies and TV shows
Disneyβs TikTok partnership wasnβt the only streaming news from the House of Mouse today. During the companyβs earnings call, CEO Josh DβAmaro revealed that Disney is exploring a free tier of sorts for Disney+ β a move that could eventually give more viewers a way into the platform without paying for a subscription.
That doesnβt necessarily mean free access to the entire Disney+ catalog. The service currently houses a massive library of owned content spanning Disney Animation, Disney Channel, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, FX, and more. Disney+ already offers an entry tier with ads, including pre-roll and mid-roll placements during TV shows, movies, and documentaries.
Instead, Disney appears to be viewing a free offering as a potential new funnel to introduce more viewers to the platform and eventually convert them into paying subscribers.
On the call, DβAmaro explained that the idea could help Disney reach a more price-sensitive audience, saying: βFirst, we see it as a way to expand our reach to a customer segment thatβs more price sensitive. Expanding our reach is, as weβve talked about before, one of our strategic priorities.β
He added that a free tier could also support Disneyβs growing advertising business: βSecond, unlike a lot of our AVOD competitors, weβre fairly well sold, meaning more inventory would actually help us accelerate our ad revenue growth.β
Finally, DβAmaro noted that a free offering could help drive new subscribers into Disney+: βAnd then finally, as you mentioned in your question, a free offering could help us drive top-of-funnel Disney+ subscriber growth.β
For now, Disney isnβt committing to a launch date or specific structure. βSo nothing specific to announce today, but definitely something that weβre considering,β DβAmaro concluded.
While some of the best streaming services, including Disneyβs own Hulu, have offered free tiers, the current market for fully free, ad-supported streaming is largely dominated by platforms like Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, and Roku. Disney+ entering that space could be a compelling move, especially if the company uses its massive portfolio of franchises and recognizable brands to attract viewers.
But the bigger picture may not just be about streaming. DβAmaro also underscored the importance of Disney+ as a βglobal touchpointβ for the company, suggesting the service could become a much larger gateway into the broader Disney ecosystem.
While there have been rumors about Disney+ eventually evolving into something closer to a super app, DβAmaro instead described it as a βdigital centerpieceβ that could eventually encompass shopping, other brand experiences, and even gaming. The timeline for those expansions may be further out, but itβs clear Disney sees Disney+ as more than just a place to watch movies and TV shows.
A free tier could be the first step in lowering the barrier to entry and getting more people connected to that larger Disney ecosystem β even if they arenβt paying a monthly subscription fee right away
Select creator-made vertical TikTok videos will appear on Disney+
The deal marks a shift toward real creators over AI-generated content after Disney's short-lived Sora partnership
Disney+ is soon going to be home to a new content type in the form of vertical videos, and unlike the original deal between Disney and OpenAI that would have had Sora-created videos using famous characters, this one seems a lot better on paper.
In a new deal between Disney and TikTok, select creators on the social platform will have access to the Mouse's IP and can use it to create videos that could land on the Disney+ app within the Verts tab. It will be pretty all-encompassing in terms of topics, featuring characters and stories from across the Disney umbrella, including Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and FX.
The idea, it seems, is that Disney is tapping into an already very vocal audience. There are likely hundreds of thousands of Disney creators already on TikTok, sharing thoughts about the Parks or Disney Cruise Line around the world, as well as all the facets of media that Disney creates.
In fact, my feed has been all about theories surrounding Spider-Man: Brand New Day recently, along with Disney World making its switch to Halloween theming β Mickey pumpkins, am I right?
Asad Ayaz, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company, is quoted in the release as saying, "The best storytellers are fans first; that has always been true at Disney, and today, fans are celebrating our stories in entirely new ways."
"This collaboration creates a new bridge between the stories we tell and the creativity they inspire, giving creators a bigger stage to share what they've made, and audiences more to discover on Disney+ every day."
(Image credit: Disney)
It also shows a focus on creator-made content for Disney and a deeper embrace of this type of content. We'll see the first results in the coming months, initially in the United States, with selected content appearing on Disney+ afterward.
While Disney hasn't shared the specific characters and franchises creators will have access to, the release states, "TikTok will offer their creators access to assets related to hundreds of films and series from Disney's vast library of enduring franchises and beloved IP."
Seemingly, if there's a new series or addition to Disney+, the Verts platform could serve up TikToks of people reacting, sharing a viral dance, or really any medium that relates back to the show, helping to inspire more conversation.
(Image credit: Disney)
The notion of vertical videos within Disney+ is not new, but this deal with TikTok seems to be a swap for the Sora alternative. That is, before Disney pulled away from the OpenAI deal and the AI giant shut down Sora. There, many Disney characters would have been used within Sora to create AI-generated videos. As I wrote back when the deal was announced, it felt like magic lost.
This new approach of working with TikTok β and arguably a community of creators who already post and create content about what's on Disney+ β will likely be a much better combination.
Once approved and accepted into the Disney Creator Ambassador Program within the TikTok x Disney partnership, creators can get access to event invites, increased visibility, and special rewards, though specifics on how to apply or join have not yet been released.
I suspect those details will come in the coming weeks or months, similar to when we see these TikTok-created videos appear in Verts on Disney+. The timing also comes as another arm of Disney is partnering with creators, albeit not just for short-form content but long-form as well.
Dubbed Created in LA and led by the Disney Experiences arm of The Walt Disney Company, this will be a two-day event in Los Angeles. Creators can apply to attend, and it will open with a premiere and screening of creator-made videos β think TikTok creators, YouTubers, and Instagram creators β at the El Capitan Theatre, followed by a summit on the second day at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.
(Image credit: Disney)
Disney is partnering with creator Jon Youshaei on the event, and it shows yet another embrace of and willingness to partner with creators. In this case, it's helping to spotlight creators, big and small, who apply and get approved, giving them a larger stage while also providing access to Disney and insights from the company.
It will be interesting to see if there's any crossover between Created in LA and this new Disney x TikTok partnership, but time will tell. Either way, it's a better direction to have real creators rather than AI-created content in Sora.
HDR isn't back in affected countries, but Disney+ is working on it
Affected customers can contact Disney+ to request a partial refund
Disney+ has begun restoring 4K support for Disney+ subscribers in Europe after being forced to remove 4K and HDR in some countries last week. That's good news, but it may cause issues on some devices, and HDR hasn't yet returned in the affected areas.
As Disney+ told us: "We have adopted an alternative technology to enable 4K UHD and HDR following a recent court ruling and have begun restoring 4K UHD support on Disney+. This may cause 4K UHD to be unavailable on some devices. We recognise the inconvenience this may cause and are working to increase device support for 4K UHD and restore HDR as quickly as we can."
What's happening with Disney+ 4K and HDR
Disney+ removed 4K and HDR from its Premium plan in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Sweden. Both features are still available in all other countries where Disney+ operates, and the removal only applies to streaming: downloads aren't affected.
The removal was the result of a court ruling, and while Disney+ doesn't go into detail about that, it looks like another video streaming patent dispute, hence the adoption of a different 4K technology to bring 4K streaming back. HDR is next on the menu, with Disney+ explaining that "We are working to restore it as quickly as we can but cannot yet confirm when it will become available again."
If you're a subscriber in one of the affected countries and HDR is a deal-breaker, Disney+ says that you can switch to a different, cheaper plan. If you want to stay on Premium but aren't happy with the loss of features, you can "request a partial refund for [your] current billing period by contacting Disney+." That only applies to direct subscribers; if you've subscribed via a third party, such as an App Store, you'll need to contact that company instead.
As I've written previously, removing the features wasn't something Disney+ chose to do; it was compelled to do it after a court case. Video and streaming patents are very complicated, and patent owners can be highly litigious, and we've seen a flurry of similar cases across the biggest multiple streamers in recent years. There's an old saying in the entertainment industry: where there's a hit, there's a writ.
Thinking of buying a new TV?
Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.
Ready to say goodbye to X-Men '97 season 2 yet? I hope not, because you've got two more episodes to enjoy of the Marvel TV show before its latest season ends.
The first of those episodes, which is this season's eighth and penultimate chapter, will make its debut very soon, too. If you want to know when it'll premiere on one of the world's best streaming services, then you'll want to warm up that scrolling finger and read on. So, hop to it!
What time can I watch X-Men '97 season 2 episode 8?
Are X-Force going to be the first group that encounters the resurrected Gambit? (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
Season 2 episode 8 will drop on Wednesday, August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET.
That's the case in the US and Canada, anyway, but fans in other countries shouldn't worry about having to wait longer to watch the Marvel Phase 6 TV series' next entry.
Indeed, it'll also drop on August 5 everywhere else, so read on to find out when X-Men '97's forthcoming installment will be released on Disney+ where you are:
USΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET
CanadaΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 12am PT / 3am ET
UKΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 8am BST
IndiaΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 12:30pm IST
SingaporeΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 3pm SGT
AustraliaΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 5pm AEST
New ZealandΒ β Wednesday, August 5 at 7pm NZST
When does the final episode of X-Men '97 season 2 come out?
Hang on tight, folks, there's only one more chapter left of season 2 after this one! (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
As I mentioned earlier, only one episode remains of this X-Men animated show's sophomore season after this week's chapter.
No matter where you're based, you'll be able to stream the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent program's next episode on Wednesday, August 12. Make sure you pencil it into your calendar, then, so you don't miss what I expect to be an explosive season 2 finale.
Fun fact: whenever I have days that I work remotely, I'll always have an episode of Bob's Burgers on in the background. In fact, I watch all 16 seasons of the hit Hulu and Disney+ animated comedy so often, that I could tell you exactly what episode was on without directly looking at it.
I felt incredibly prepared for the handful of Bob's Burgers quizzes already on the internet claiming to be the hardest, but nobody has yet been able to truly test the reams of random knowledge I've acquired from watching the series so often.
Should I be able to tell recite the lyrics to the song that plays over Tina and Tammy's first time collectively ditching class in season 2? Probably not.
So, behold β the genuinely most difficult Bob's Burgers quiz that I have played to date (because I made it). If you get more than 80%, I'll assume that you're actually a Wharf resident who's somehow found their way into the real world.
I have left out anything that happens in The Bob's Burgers Movie, but you'll need to have seen seasons 1-16 in order to answer all of the questions.
Check back when Bob's Burgers season 17 (hopefully) airs in early 2027... you know that the above will be updated accordingly.
Disney+ subscribers in some European countries have lost 4K and HDR support, including basic HDR10 as well as Dolby Vision
This appears to be the result of a court ruling, with the same kind of patent dispute being the cause of Disney+ losing Dolby Vision previously
Premium customers are paying more for very little advantage now, but there's no word on a refund or compensation as yet
A few months ago Disney+ removed Dolby Vision in parts of Europe after a patent court ruled against the entertainment company, although it brought Dolby back the following month. But now there's a much more serious removal: 4K and HDR10 are gone for many European customers as well as Dolby Vision, and these are pretty core things you pay for if you have Disney+ Premium.
It appears to be another patent issue. In a statement to FlatpanelsHD, The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic said: "Following a recent court ruling affecting the technology we use to deliver 4K UHD and HDR, we have temporarily removed support for 4K UHD and HDR on Disney+. We are disappointed and share our customers' frustration. We are working hard to restore support as quickly as possible."
We're not sure exactly which countries are affected yet, but it doesn't include the UK (or US) β we'll update with a full list when we can, but it's likely to be the same countries affected by the Dolby Vision removal. The reported list of countries in that case was: Austria; Belgium; Germany; Denmark; Finland; France; Italy; Netherlands; Portugal; Romania; Sweden.
That isn't just frustrating. It's taken away a key reason for subscribing to the most expensive Premium plan (though you will still get Dolby Atmos and the ability to stream to four devices at the same time, and downloads on up to 10 devices).
But still, if you're paying the extra price specifically to upgrade from 1080p to 4K HDR, right now you're paying extra for nothing, there's no sign of any compensation for customers so far.
This current issue isn't Disney's fault. The major streaming services have all been targeted by patent owners claiming breach of their intellectual property, and this appears to be another one of those cases; if so, it'll probably be resolved relatively quickly.
But it does make me wonder about the bigger picture here, because I think streaming is in danger of losing what made it so popular as we pay ever increasing prices for what we used to get as standard.
In this particular case the loss of 4K and HDR has been imposed by an external issue. But the highest quality options have been moving upwards into the most expensive tiers for a couple of years now, so unless you pay for the premium subscriptions you don't get the best quality.
That means what used to be a one-size-fits-all offer is now much more complicated and more expensive every year. For example, I'm in the UK, where Disney+ has three plans, only one of which gives you Atmos and 4K. Netflix has three plans too, once again limiting 4K to the most expensive tier.
My previously ad-free Prime Video subscription is so stuffed with ads now it's a hilariously miserable experience with me and the kids swearing at the screen, and Dolby Vision and Atmos became paid-for upgrades two years ago.
I'd bet that if you're reading this you probably subscribe to, or use the ad-funded version of, a music streaming service; they're so convenient that looking for pirated songs is more trouble than it's worth. But can you say the same for the movie streamers?
I don't condone piracy at all. But as someone who's been reporting on digital piracy since the days when Metallica didn't know what a Napster was, I've seen piracy ebb and flow in music and in movies, and it's very clear that no matter how hard you try, no matter how much money and how many lawyers you throw at it, you cannot stop digital piracy. What you can do β what Netflix, the OG streamer, did β is offer a better alternative that makes it unappealing.
In a world where perfect digital copies of movies and TV shows are only a few clicks away, the only way to prevent people pirating is to make your product better in ways that persuade people to pay for it, or to accept the advertising that pays for it.
And to me it looks like only one of the major streamers is doing that: Apple TV+. What I'd love to see is the other streamers doing what it does. What I fear, and which is more likely, is that Apple TV is going to end up doing what they do.
With only three more episodes to go, X-Men 97 season 2 is fast approaching the finish line β and there are a few big story threads that the Marvel TV show needs to wrap before it takes another extended break from our screens.
How will Professor X establishing X-Corp affect the current world order? What impact will Gambit's resurrection as one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen have on this season's plot? And where is the Disney+ TV series setting up things to come for season 3? I can't say for sure β but, what I do know is when season 2 episode 7 will air on Disney+, one of the best streaming services. So, scroll on for more details!
What time can I watch X-Men 97 season 2 episode 7?
Sitting patiently for the X-Men 97's next chapter to come out like... (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
Episode 7 of X-Men 97's sophomore season will make its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, July 29. That's its global launch date, too, so viewers in North and South America won't be able to watch it on the evening of July 28.
Unless the Marvel Phase 6 project's release time is suddenly changed, the entry titled 'Strange Land, Savage Heart' will drop at the same time that its six forebears have:
US β 12am PT / 3am ET
Canada β 12am PT / 3am ET
UK β 8am BST
India β 12:30pm IST
Singapore β 3pm SGT
Australia β 5pm AEST
New Zealand β 7pm NZST
X-Men 97 season 2 full release schedule
X-Men 97 season 2 is powering up for its third act (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
As I mentioned earlier, there aren't many installments left of the X-Men animated show's current season. Indeed, there are only two more to enjoy after this week's episode before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent program goes off-air once more.
Like the launch time section above, as long as Marvel doesn't make a last-minute adjustment to this season's release schedule, we already know when its final pair of chapters will come out:
As Oliver (Martin Short), Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) head to London, UK to solve the death of a global podcaster, the below Brits will be joining the action:
Jennifer Saunders
Sean Teale
Simone AshleyΒ
Amar Chadha-Patel
Rhea Norwood
Matthew Beard
Sharon HorganΒ
Geri Halliwell Horner
Martin Freeman
Jamie Demetriou
Anjana Vasan
Jane Horrocks
Derek Jacobi
Lesley Nicol
David Tennant
Nicola Coughlan
Jodie Whitaker
Jim Broadbent
Adrian Lukis
Richard Ayoade
Kathryn Hunter
This is all before the Disney+ and Hulu show slyly revealed its most recent casting through an Instagram carousel: England's Oscar-winning hero, Olivia Colman.
She's seen filming scenes solo while sat on a sofa, but the post shows that Mabel and Loretta (Meryl Streep) have also been at the same location. Put two and two together and there's a very high chance that Streep and Colman could be sharing the screen... and this is exciting to me.
Why? This will be the first time that the pair are reunited on screen since the 2010 British political biopic that I was unusually feral for as a 17-year-old girl. It's also the performance that won Streep her most recent Best Actress Oscar... and frankly, it all has to be seen to be believed.
Only Murders in the Building season 6 will be Olivia Colman and Meryl Streep's first onscreen appearance since The Iron Lady
Only Streep could take a figure as politically and culturally divisive as former UK Conversative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and turn her into an Academy Award winner.
The 2011 biopic The Iron Lady explores her life and career as the UK's longest-serving Prime Minister, with an older Thatcher looking back over her life after the death of her beloved husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent).
So, where does Colman fit in? She plays Carol Thatcher, Margaret's daughter, sharing intimate scenes with Streep during Margaret's older years. Watching them together is like watching destiny... of course these two were always going to unite and give audiences something special.
While Streep rightly received a great deal of notoriety for her performance, it's surprising how many people forget that Colman was ever in it. In fact, if you've never realized before now, you've likely seen the below anecdote on The Graham Norton Show, with Colman revealing that Streep thought her real teeth were fake.
Oddly, The Iron Lady is one of the few films I can probably recite word for word without needing to watch it again first. Around the same time that it was released, a college friend of mine and I set up a (very) unofficial Meryl Streep fan club: The Mezralites.
We got t-shirts made β for all two members who were in the club β and spent every lunch break possible learning Streep's ways: understanding how she embodied the famous Prime Minister before our time, how she turned her hand to the slightest of details that could make or break a single moment.
I would always argue that any film featuring Streep is worth seeing, but The Iron Lady is the perfect binge before Only Murders in the Building season 6 arrives.
We're getting two divas for the price of one, and the underlying biting tension between them onscreen could so easily be replicated under Oliver, Charles and Mabel's watch.
My favorite interviews over the course of my career have involve people I'd never normally get the chance to speak to in everyday life.
So far this year that's involved two former FBI agents, but Dr. Sarita Robinson β who you can see in Pompeii: Out of Time, out now on Disney+ and Hulu β might just take the cake. Known as "Dr. Survival," her work specialises in figuring out why some people are more likely to survive disasters than others.
This makes her a compelling expert for the three-part docuseries, which explores the events leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, which destroyed the nearby Roman city of Pompeii, and features Tom Hiddleston as presenter.
But it's not her take on the past that I'm actually as interested in... it's her take on the disasters of the future. As a TechRadar writer, I can't pass up an opportunity to talk to Robinson about the dangers of the rise of AI usage across the globe.
Add in potential climate change risk, and I think that AI is more than a viable candidate for the sort of survival emergencies that Robinson researches. But surprisingly, AI isn't what she's most worried about.
'We theoretically have a risk from AI'
First, I begin by asking Robinson exactly how she defines a survival emergency. Does it have to be a natural occurrence, like the Mount Vesuvius eruption near Pompeii?
"Absolutely not," she replies. "For me, when I'm looking at emergencies, it's anything where your life is at risk. That can be as simple as you walking across a road and a car coming, small scale emergencies that are just enough that you have to respond, or it can be huge emergencies. The last one that I did quite a lot of research on, as you might expect, is the pandemic. The next one will be climate change, the era of global boiling."
"Medium scale would be an earthquake in a region, a terror attack β so they can be human made disasters... they don't have to be just natural disasters."
So far, so good. When it comes to categorizing AI within Robinson's research boundaries, is this kind of technological disaster something she's ever considered?
"I think I've watched enough science fiction movies to know that we theoretically have a risk from AI," she tells me. "Exactly what that risk would be or how it would look is very difficult to predict at this moment. But yes, absolutely, I would definitely add it onto my list of things that can go wrong... my list is quite extensive."
'I would be far more worried about a solar pulse'
(Image credit: Disney+/Hulu/National Geographic)
"To be fair, I think the thing I worry about more on the tech front is something like a solar pulse that then knocks out a whole load of technology," Robinson adds. "I can't imagine my life without a mobile phone, a computer... it would be very odd to go into an age of no internet."
It's at this point of the interview where I stop feeling bad for adding a disaster scenario to Robinson's list, as she's certainly just added one to mine. Before this point, I'd never even heard of a solar pulse, which can best be described as a sudden burst of energy from the sun. According to the University of Minnesota, they can trigger "explosive releases of radiation and magnetized plasma ripple through space, occasionally triggering geomagnetic storms on Earth and producing auroras."
Fantastic, another reason to have anxiety in 2026. But what is Robinson's advice for not feeling so anxious about... well, general impending doom?
"Be prepared: active coping, doing something about it, keeping it in perspective, but making sure that you have the resources if something goes wrong," she responds. "I don't mean building a nuclear bunker in your back garden. For example, when the pandemic hit back in 2020, I had a 'pandemic kit' under my sink. I felt like I had a little bit more control in that moment."
"I did some research on the pandemic and what it did show was that those people who'd made some preparations prior to the lockdown were doing much better in terms of mental health, stress, anxiety and depression."
Can we make a solar pulse or anti-AI kit for under our sinks? Most likely not. But that doesn't mean that Robinson's advice should be discarded β control also means vigilance, so keeping a mix of online and offline resources in day-to-day life could be a great way of achieving this.
The 2026 edition of San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is almost upon us, and you know what that means: all manner of rumors and speculation about the surprises Marvel might have in store for us at its now-customary Hall H panel.
To a certain extent, the biggest reveal has already happened. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) diehards had expected the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday to be the focal point of the comic book titan's next presentation. With Avengers: Doomsday's main trailer released on Monday (July 20), though, Marvel must have something just as significant around which to center its forthcoming panel on July 25 at 5:30pm PT.
As attentions turn towards the Disney subsidiary's hour-long address at SDCC 2026, chief among fans' immediate thoughts is: what big reveal could Marvel make that a) would rival Avengers: Doomsday's first proper trailer as a major talking point, and b) is so noteworthy that Marvel felt confident enough to unveil Doomsday's trailer earlier than expected?
The X-Men will take center stage in Marvel Studios' post-Multiverse Saga plans (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)
One project that fits the bill is Marvel's new X-Men movie. The only post-Multiverse Saga film in active development, myriad rumors are circulating online about who could star in the mutant-led flick. You can learn more about which actors Marvel is reportedly talking to via my Marvel's X-Men movie guide.
For what it's worth, industry insiders, albeit ones with sketchy track records, have claimed there'll be no such cast reveals at SDCC 2026. My reading of the situation is that'll be the case, too, especially as Marvel will want to focus to stay on the rest of its 2026 line-up β I'll discuss this in more detail shortly β and the projects it'll release in 2027, such as Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and Avengers: Secret Wars. We're not expecting the new X-Men movie to arrive until the following year.
That said, I'd be surprised if Marvel doesn't say something about the MCU's first X-Men film. Speculation abounds that the comic titan might tentatively discuss other Marvel Phase 7 movies, such as Thunderbolts 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps sequel, Black Panther 3, Nova, and Midnight Sons β the last of which might repurpose Marvel's long-gestating plans to introduce Mahershala Ali's Blade to the MCU. It would be bizarre, then, if that quintet is covered, but not the first film of what'll be version 2.0 of the MCU.
Marvel should treat fans to more footage and/or details about Avengers: Doomsday at SDCC 2026 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
But, onto more pressing matters β namely, the rest of Marvel's 2026 movie and TV slate.
On the film side of things, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which swings into theaters between July 29 and 31 (depending on where you live), is expected to have a big presence at SDCC 2026. I'm willing to bet that attendees will be treated to some exclusive first-look footage, but any spoiler-based content, such as the identity of Sadie Sink's much-discussed mystery character in Spider-Man 4, won't be part of proceedings. Could we also get an early Spider-Man 5 announcement? As a huge Spidey fan, I'd be overjoyed if we did.
As for Avengers: Doomsday, I believe Marvel will show off some new clips from one of this year's most anticipated new movies, with the most likely candidates being extended looks at shots from its first main trailer. Where its sequel in Secret Wars is concerned, I think we'll get a name-drop and the briefest, spoiler-free hints about its story, but that's all.
Pre-SDCC 2026 chatter about Marvel's forthcoming Disney+ shows is much harder to read. After all, the studio has regularly reserved its biggest TV announcements for D23 Expo (Disney's flagship fan event, which takes place annually in Anaheim, California), so it stands to reason that there won't be a change in strategy this year.
Nevertheless, I predict we'll get some details about its final two TV series of the year β VisionQuest and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (YFNSM) season 2 β at SDCC.
Viewers will be reunited with White Vision in Disney+ show VisionQuest, which arrives this October (Image credit: Marvel.com)
With VisionQuest, I foresee confirmation of its main cast and a behind-closed-doors look at the Paul Bettany-led live-action program. Whether that'll be a full first trailer or a more general sneak peek remains to be seen, but I wouldn't be surprised if, as long as it's the former, VisionQuest's first trailer isn't publicly released following its possible unveiling at SDCC.
The same is true of YFNSM season 2. I'm of the opinion that Marvel's animated Spider-Man show will be highlighted in greater detail at D23 Expo 2026. That said, I'm fairly confident that Marvel will also deliver some news about it. Is it too much to ask for an official launch date? Not in my book.
Meanwhile, Marvel has already confirmed that it's full steam ahead on season 3 of its critically-acclaimed animated series X-Men 97. Will we hear more about it shortly? Not in my view. We've still got three more episodes of X-Men 97 season 2 to enjoy before it goes off the air, so any conversations about its follow-up season β especially those of a spoiler-based persuasion β will have to wait until D23 Expo 2026 or this year's New York Comic-Con.
Finally, will we hear anything substantial about Wonder Man season 2? That's similarly unlikely. Co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton has been incredibly busy with directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Although Cretton recently said that the cameras could roll on Wonder Man's next chapter as early as next year, this year's D23 Expo feels like a better fit for any major announcements for this series, as well as Marvel Zombies season 2, the company's first R-rated animated program.
What Marvel movies and TV shows do you think we'll see and hear more about at SDCC 2026? And which one(s) are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comment section below and the above poll you probably scrolled past.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas worldwide on December 18
Tom Hiddleston's Loki is part of the movie's huge ensemble
The popular actor has revealed if fans need to watch Loki on Disney+ before Doomsday comes out
Tom Hiddleston has revealed if you need to watch Loki on Disney+ to understand his character's role in Avengers: Doomsday.
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, the fan-favorite actor, who has played Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2010, said he "will always say that people need to watch" his character's standalone series. However, Hiddleston wouldn't be drawn specifically on whether it was essential to stream the show prior to Doomsday's release on December 18.
Marvel fans who've seen the Hiddleston-fronted program will already know how its second and final season ends. On the off-chance that you haven't watched it yet, I'll refrain from spelling out exactly what happened in this article. For those who need their memory jogged, my spoiler-filled Loki season 2 ending explained piece holds the answers you seek.
One thing that every MCU fanatic will know by now, though, is that Loki will return in Avengers: Doomsday. Indeed, not only was Hiddleston part of the initial 27-strong Doomsday cast announcement in March 2025, but he also made the briefest of appearances in Avengers: Doomsday's first official trailer, which surprisingly made its public debut yesterday (July 20).
Naturally, fans have myriad questions after the release of said trailer, including a couple concerning Loki. How big of a role will he play in the Marvel Phase 6 movie? Will he be reunited with Thor? And, perhaps most important of all, does Loki's Disney+ show have any bearing on the story that Doomsday will tell?
As part of a wider chat I had with Hiddleston for his new National Geographic docudrama Pompeii: Out of Time, which airs on Disney+ and Hulu on July 23, I put those exact questions to him. Predictably, Hiddleston, who has plenty of experience dodging spoiler-based Marvel questions, wasn't forthcoming with definitive answers.
Nonetheless, he did appear to drop a tiny hint that anyone who wants to comprehend Loki's role in Avengers 5 should seek out the character's solo show on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.
"I always say that people need to watch Loki," he told me with a wry smile. "I'm really proud of that show β I poured my whole soul into it and I love playing Loki. It's been 16 years now and, you know, I got to the end of Avengers: Infinity War, and that seemed to be the end of the Odinson saga.
"But, then Loki, as a series, was about placing Loki in the new context [by] taking him out of time and his reality," Hiddleston continued. "He's confronted with his compulsive, self-destructive, repetitive patterns of behavior, and gives him this capacity to be an agent of his own destiny. It was such an enjoyable experience because the whole show is about identity, purpose, and belonging, and also about time and how we perceive it and how best to use it.
"So, yeah, I would always say, if you haven't watched it, go and do so," he added. "And, if you haven't watched it before Doomsday, go and watch it again."
X-Men 97 season 2 took us on something of a narrative detour with last week's episode, so some viewers will be pleased to know that its next chapter gets things back on track. And by that, I mean this season's sixth entry will address the fallout from X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4's emotionally devastating ending.
Want to know when the Marvel TV show's next installment will make its bow on Disney+? Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn't be here. I'll stop beating around the bush, then, and tell you to scroll on for more detailsβ¦
What is the launch time for X-Men 97 season 2 episode 6?
Last week's episode was a necessary palette cleanser after the shocking events of its forebear (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)
Titled 'Danger.exe', the next episode of X-Men 97's sophomore season will premiere at 12am PT / 3am ET on Wednesday, July 22 in the US and Canada.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)-adjacent TV series' forthcoming chapter will also come out in other nations on July 22, albeit at a different time depending on where you live. Check out the list below to see when it'll be released in your country:
USΒ β 12am PT / 3am ET
CanadaΒ β 12am PT / 3am ET
UKΒ β 8am BST
IndiaΒ β 12:30pm IST
SingaporeΒ β 3pm SGT
AustraliaΒ β 5pm AEST
New ZealandΒ β 7pm NZST
What is the full launch schedule for X-Men 97 season 2?
ΜΆWΜΆoΜΆlΜΆvΜΆeΜΆrΜΆiΜΆnΜΆeΜΆ ΜΆ Broodverine πCatch Episode 5 of Marvel Animation's #XMen97 Season 2, now streaming on Disney+. pic.twitter.com/O846Yhn6P1July 17, 2026
After this week's episode of the X-Men's animated show has dropped on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services, there will only be three more to enjoy before season 2 comes to an end.
Unless Marvel suddenly changes the series' current release schedule, those final three chapters will air on successive Wednesdays until the Marvel Phase 6 project's latest finale arrives in mid-August. Read on to see what dates they'll launch on:
Disney+ is reportedly mulling over a completely free tier with ads
The cheapest tier already includes some adverts
We're seeing streaming platforms become more like traditional TV
The line between streaming platforms and traditional TV continues to blur: there's a fresh report that Disney+ is considering adding a free tier to its platform, completely supported by ads, so some shows and movies could be watched without paying anything.
This comes from Business Insider, which says that "people familiar with the matter" have revealed that Disney+ product and tech chief Adam Smith mentioned the possibility of a free tier during a town hall meeting inside the company on Thursday (July 9).
Those are all the details we have, for now β so it's just a possibility. Smith didn't give any indication of when the free tier might be offered to consumers, or how much of the Disney+ library might be available without paying anything.
There is some indication from Business Insider that Disney+ is worried about YouTube and its continued growth. While you can opt to pay for YouTube Premium, all of the content on the platform is available for free, with opts.
While streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple TV don't have a completely free tier, there are of course services such as Pluto TV and Tubi that are built entirely around free, ad-supported streaming television (known as FAST).
Statistics from Nielsen, quoted by Business Insider, say that the three largest free streamers accounted for 18.7% of watch time in the US in April 2026, up from 16.8% a year earlier, and 12.7% the year before that β figures Disney+ will have noticed.
Reactions to the rumors on Reddit have been mixed, with the observation that "we're so close to the streamers inventing television" and a quip that "we're just getting TV again huh" summing up the general sentiment among users.
One poster suggests the new tier would be "unwatchable" given how many ads already appear on the cheapest Disney+ tier, while another airs concerns that a completely free tier would eventually come with a monthly cost as time goes on.
It's hardly a surprise, but Hulu and Disney+ have confirmed that Rivals season 3 has been renewed. However, we're forgetting that something important will be missing.
Hulu and Disney+ have just announced the stacked guest star list for Only Murders in the Building season 6 β and two new cast members are already connected.
I've been lucky enough to watch the first 45 minutes of Toy Story 5 β and while I have no idea how the new Disney Pixar movie ends, I think it will be even more brutal than Toy Story 3.
Login
