Despite the fact that X-Men: Apocalypse was arguably the most comic book-y instalment of the franchise to date, it wasn't well-received by fans or critics. So, what's going to change with Dark Phoenix? Well, Evan Peters has revealed in a new interview that things will be getting darker for the heroes and the general vibe will be much closer to Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class in 2011.
"I think it’s the classic X-Men: First Class tone, where there’s a bit of humor thrown in there, but it’s much darker than the previous one, Apocalypse. Apocalypse was the ‘80s, so there was a lot of room for goofy stuff in there. This one is a much more serious film about the internal struggle of Phoenix and Jean, so it’s a dramatic film. There’s nothing very comedic about it, other than the few moments that are in there. I think it’s gonna be a powerful one. It’s Dark Phoenix. I think it’s gonna be darker than we’re used to. It’s gonna be a change, but it’s gonna be fun for everybody."
X-Men: Apocalypse definitely had some dark moments but many struggled to take those seriously, especially as Oscar Isaac's En Sabah Nur looked a little comical at times. Simon Kinberg wrote that movie, of course, but he's both writing and directing Dark Phoenix so he probably won't struggle to change the tone. As for what the filmmaker brought to proceedings here, Peters went on to say:
"Awesome! It was incredible. He was very prepared and he knew what he was doing. He’s surrounded himself with a great team that’s been there for years. Everybody knows each other. It was a great environment for him to step forward. He knows the characters and story better than anyone because he wrote it. I think it was easy for him and it was very calm. It’s always been a fun experience, but it was also a calm experience, this time around, which was a relief. I’m sure there was a lot of pressure on him, but he’s such a nice guy and so cool. You didn’t see him being stressed or nervous, at all, on set, so it was very cool."
Many fans have their doubts about the first time director, especially as he's credited (blamed?) with helmed those Fantastic Four reshoots. Do these remarks from the Quicksilver actor make you any more excited for Dark Phoenix? As always, share your thoughts in the comments section down below.