SPOILERS: 10 Awesome (And Surprising) Ways X-MEN: APOCALYPSE Sets Up The Future Of The X-Men Universe
X-Men: Apocalypse may be the conclusion of the trilogy which began in 2011 with First Class, but make no mistake about it, the movie also sets up the future of this world in some very surprising ways!
X-Men: Apocalypse is already out in a number of international locations, and reaches the US next Thursday. Regardless of whether or not you've seen the movie though, you're no doubt going to be interested in how this movie sets up the future of both the X-Men franchise and the various spinoffs which are on the way over the next few years, and believe me when I say it does that in a major way.
From new villains to major shifts in the status quo of certain characters and clear signs that specific story arcs are being adapted down the line, these are the ten biggest ways X-Men: Apocalypse sets up the future of 20th Century Fox's X-Men Universe. Needless to say, potentially major spoilers for the present and future of this franchise do indeed follow, so read on from here at your own risk...
10. The Importance Of Wolverine's Blood
X-Men: Apocalypse's after-credits scene features a rather sinister looking guy in a suit retrieving a vial of Weapon X's blood and placing it in a case alongside some other very interesting looking fluids. Even if we hadn't heard rumours about X-23 showing up in The Wolverine 3, it wouldn't take much to piece together the fact that this is a clear nod to the young female clone of Logan.
Even Bryan Singer recently revealed that he's pitched the idea of taking Wolverine in this direction now that Hugh Jackman is saying goodbye to the role, and while an actress fitting X-23's description has yet to be cast in that movie, this scene most definitely points to her showing up at some point before long.
9. A New Path For Magneto
X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past both ended by teasing the formation of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but this movie takes things in a slightly more unexpected direction. Redeemed in the eyes of both the X-Men and the public after helping to defeat En Sabah Nur, the Master of Magnetism leaves the X-Mansion to explore the path Charles Xavier attempted to put him on back when they first met.
While it would have arguably been more satisfying to see him stay in the X-Mansion to teach a new generation of mutants, this leaves the door open to him returning and gives him the surprising new status quo of being a superhero from this point onwards, and with any luck, he'll end up joining or leading the X-Men...
8. Return Of The Sentinels?
X-Men: Apocalypse ends with Mystique pitting her team of X-Men against an army of Sentinels in a classic version of the Danger Room. There are no projections here; instead, the heroes battle mechanical foes just like they did in the early Stan Lee and Jack Kirby stories.
The fact that Professor X has had Sentinels in his possession all this time is very interesting, though it's possible that these were built by Beast to test the students. Whatever the answer may be, there has to be a chance that we could end up seeing the robotic villains make some sort of return in future as they possibly lose control or are taken over by...someone (who that might be is something I'll address a little later here).
7. The Dark Phoenix Saga
Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg have both said that they want to do the Dark Phoenix Saga right after the ball was so spectacularly dropped in X-Men: The Last Stand, and based on the events of X-Men: Apocalypse, we're going to see that storyline back on the big screen in the very near future.
After being convinced by Charles Xavier to unleash the full extent of her abilities, we see the Phoenix in all its fiery glory, and even En Sabah Nur seems to recognise it as a powerful ancient force (which will do his job for him and end up cleansing the Earth). Deliving into this as soon as the next X-Men movie might be a bit premature - we barely know this version of Jean - but expect it to happen soon.
6. Mystique Is The New Leader Of The X-Men
This is going to upset some fans, but when all is said and done at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse, Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique is the new leader of the X-Men. It's entirely possible that she'll just train them before going off to do her own thing again of course, but unlike Professor X (who doesn't seem overly pleased at the prospect of his students being taught to fight despite realising that it's a necessity), it seems as if Raven has fully embraced the idea of what the X-Men need to be.
In this new timeline, it's apparent that Mystique won't become a villain and one of Magneto's closest allies, so regardless of whether she's in the next movie, the character's status quo has been forever altered and that's sure to have at least some ramifications for this franchise moving forward.
5. A Danger-ous New Foe
To be perfectly honest, this is pure speculation on my part, but the introduction of the Danger Room and the use of those classic Sentinels makes me think that the prospect of introducing Danger has at least crossed the minds of Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg.
Created by Joss Whedon during his Astonishing X-Men run (a series Kinberg borrowed elements from in X-Men: The Last Stand), it featured the Danger Room coming to life and taking on the X-Men, and she even utilised a gigantic Sentinel to take out the heroes. This could work really well on the big screen - despite the similarities to Ultron - and would give this franchise its first major female villain, something which would definitely help freshen up the next instalment after X-Men: Apocalypse.
4. The Return Of Wolverine
Hugh Jackman may have said that The Wolverine 3 will be his final appearance as this character, but could he be tempted back for another cameo appearance somewhere down the line? Bear in mind that we already know Logan ends up joining the X-Men, and as the timeline continues to jump forward, the moment he's discovered by the team will need to be addressed in some way.
That could obviously end up being with another actor, but based on how things ended between Cyclops, Jean, and Weapon X, I would definitely expect some version of this chracter to reappear a couple of movies from now even if X-23 is indeed introduced next year. The fact that his fate is left unknown at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse certainly opens the door to that being the case.
3. A New Ally (And Enemy?) For The X-Men
One of the best things about X-Men: Apocalypse is the fact that it features Moira MacTaggert regaining the memories of her past with Charles Xavier, and seeing as she's separated from her husband, these two once again embarking on a romantic relationship moving forward seems likely.
Whether she stays in the CIA or takes on a similar role to the one she had in the comic books, Moira becoming part of the X-Men's world is very intriguing especially as she casually mentions that she has a son. Fans will of course know that that's a character better known as the reality warping and completely insane Proteus, someone Bryan Singer just recently said he would like to use as a villain in his next X-Men movie if he decides to return.
2. Cyclops' Bright Future
The original X-Men trilogy really botched the portrayal of Scott Summers, but Bryan Singer more than makes up for past mistakes here. While it may be Mystique who is training the team and presumably the one who will lead them into battle, it's already easy to picture Cyclops taking charge of this group based on his actions throughout the movie
Sure, he's a little rough around the edges, but Scott is still the one one who leads Jean (who once again looks set to become a romantic interest for the hero) and Nightcrawler to the Weapon X facility to save the rest of the X-Men. After years of being portrayed as little more than a whiny jealous boyfriend, we finally have the Cyclops from the comic books fans have been waiting to see and his future looks bright as a result.
1. Mr. Sinister
That guy with the briefcase who I mentioned at the beginning of this feature is an employee of Essex Corp., and the way the camera lingers on that name tells you all you need to know about where the world of the X-Men is going to go next. Regardless of when and where Mr. Sinister shows up next, we now know that he's on the way, and seeing this iconic bad guy as soon as The Wolverine 3 seems highly likely.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's the villain of that movie and his plan revolves around X-23's creation, though it would obviously be a shame for him to not also face the X-Men (and particularly Scott Summers) somewhere down the line. Either way, this after-credits scene may have just given us our first glimpse at this world's new big bad now Magneto is on the side of the angels.
Are you excited for the future of the X-Men Universe after seeing this movie? Did you spot any ways it teases the future that we missed? As always, let us know your thoughts in the usual place.