‘X-Men: Apocalypse’: Bryan Singer To Direct, Plot Hints Revealed
After Bryan Singer tweeted that X-Men: Apocalypse will hit theaters in 2016, fans had two questions: Who will direct, and who will be in it?
Vulture confirmed that Singer will be back behind the camera for X-Men: Apocalypse, which will be a direct sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past. But unlike Days of Future Past, which will feature the cast of the original trilogy and their younger counterparts introduced in 2011’s X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse will only feature the younger versions. Like its predecessor, X-Men: Apocalypse will be set in the 1970s.
As for the titular Apocalypse, in the comics, he is the earth’s oldest mutant — also known as The First One — born 5,000 years ago in Akkaba. The character made his first appearance in the X-Factor#6, and became the team’s primary nemesis. Apocalypse also appeared in several episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series in the early 1990s.
X-Men: Days of Future Past acts as a sequel to 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, as well as a followup to this year’s The Wolverine. In a storyline spanning two time periods, the characters of the original trilogy must team up with their younger selves. The film will slightly differ from the Days of Future Past comic book storyline in that Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is the one doing the time traveling, as opposed to Kitty Pride (Ellen Page). Jackman will play both the younger and older versions of Wolverine, since the character is essentially ageless — which is consistent with the comic book canon. How Apocalypse will be introduced has yet to be confirmed, but First Showing offers some insight [read: spoilers] as to how Days of Future Past will lead into the sequel.
X-Men: Apocalypse will be released in theaters May 27, 2016. The film will mark Bryan Singer’s fourth film in the X-Men franchise. Singer directed X-Men in 2000, and X2 in 2003, with Brett Ratner taking over for X-Men: The Last Stand, and Matthew Vaughn taking the helm for First Class. Singer returned for X-Men: Days of Future Past, which hits theaters May 23, 2014.
