X-Men ’97’s Jennifer Hale on Madelyne Pryor’s Voice of Jean Grey

It’s safe to say that Marvel has struck gold with X-Men ’97. Not only has the Disney+ show surpassed the nostalgia and brand name recognition that came with the takeover right after its predecessor, but it’s also become the streamer’s biggest animated series thanks in large part to its crisp animation and mature storytelling.

By far one of the most remarkable aspects of X-Men ’97 is that it brought in a bunch of the original cast of the show, as well as some familiar actors from the franchise, like the incomparable Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey. In that spirit, we spoke to Hale to ask what it was like to step into the booth and lend her voice to not only Jean Gray, but also her dark clone, Madelyne Pryor, in the show’s adaptation of one of the best . X-Men run of comics.

“I’m so honored,” Hale told io9. “I was given this opportunity to step into the original role of Catherine (Disher) and fortunately Catherine is still part of our cast.”

For those unfamiliar with Hale’s illustrious resume, X-Men ’97 it’s not the first time he’s played Jean Grey. In the past, she has lent her voice to the core member of the X-Men in video games (Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: Dark Order, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3)2011 X-Men Marvel anime and 2009 Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon. However, Hale says she’s reprising her role as Jean Gray out of thin air X-Men ’97 it was a great experience.

“I’ve been Jean Gray many times in many different projects and in many different areas of the industry, and to be able to step into this role on this particular project, I feel like I’ve won the lottery,” Hale said. “This team is incredible – they grew up watching the show. The directors are just wonderful people and a joy to work with. God, I loved it.”

As mentioned earlier, Hale wasn’t just voicing a young, modern Grey; she also voiced her genetic clone, Madelyne Pryor. The character is virtually identical to Gray, both in power and visually, in the early episodes – until she transforms into the dark and twisted Goblin Queen. Pryor’s transformation not only caused further confusion for husband and father Scott Summers, but also meant that Hale had to find a darker, more sardonic tone to distinguish Pryor from Grey.

When asked how she discovered her voice for X-Men 97His resident mother, Hale credited his vocal breakthrough to the show’s sharp writing and voice director, Meredith Lane.

“Voice directors (are) like the secret sauce. Meredith’s job is to hear all the different writers and creative producers talking to her in one ear, talk to me and make it all come together,” Hale said.

She continued: “Because Meredith is there, I can throw down and go hard into Madelyne, or Goblin Queen, or Jean, without worrying that I’ve lost the right tonal sounds (or) the perfect anchor point for the perspective characteristic of this character. because I know she has my back. She’ll say, “Well, no, that went too Madelyne,” or “That went too Jean.” She’s there and I have that backup and I can read because of her.”

While Hale won’t reveal what he thinks Jean and the gang will be up to in the upcoming second season of X-Men ’97she left us with a tease that — like its Emmy-nominated predecessor — “it’s going to be another great season.”

X-Men ’97 the first season is now streaming on Disney+.

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