Simon Kinberg Talks X-MEN: APOCALYPSE; Teases More Comics References, Character Arcs, & More

“I’m super happy with it. We are in the edit working on it, working on the first cut of the film. But it’s really exciting. I’ve said this before and I feel it even more having seen the movie cut together: I do think it will be the biggest of the X-Men films just in terms of the scale and the scope of the movie, and even more the emotional stakes and scope of the film. It has a level of drama and emotion, for all of the characters—I think going into it I assumed this would be the culmination in many ways of this little trilogy we were telling for young Erik, Charles, Mystique, and Beast but I think what was surprising over the span of photography and now into post as well is just how resonant the young Jean, Scott, and Storm stories are too. So I think the movie feels very balanced between—I don’t wanna call them the older generation because they were the younger generation, but the generation of the X-Men from the last few films and the new generation.”

This should be welcome news for fans everywhere. Additionally, here's some more good news, Kinberg revealed that fans of the X-Men comics can expect "as much or more" references to the comics than ever before with one of the more prominent references being Quicksilver's search for his father. Kinberg confirms it'll be a much larger arc for the breakout character, played by Evan Peters, and describes the character's journey as "really emotional, (and a) really important part of the movie." No mention of his ultra-powered sister, but it's hard to imagine we don't get at least some sort of Scarlet Witch acknowledgement in the film, especially after a near-mention in Days Of Future Past.

Kinberg chooses not to share too much about the newer X-Men, but instead clears up a few details regarding Mystique's newfound co-leadership role and how her new arc is a direct consequence of her actions at the tail-end of the previous film:

“I think the movie explores her struggle, which is sort of the result of Days of Future Past. If you think about the end of Days of Future Past, in front of the entire world she stops Magneto and saves the President and cabinet, and so this movie certainly explores 10 years later what it is to wear the mantle of that responsibility.” 

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-Men: Apocalypse, opening in theaters everywhere May 27, 2016. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.