‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Filmmakers, Stars Discuss Future Of The Franchise; Four EW Covers Unveiled

Entertainment Weekly has a big cover story on X-Men: Apocalypse that got so big, it needed four covers to convey how enormous it was. The many mutants of Bryan Singer’s fourth X-feature are on display and the stars and creators behind them commented on the future of their superhero series.

As director Bryan Singer has said previously, Apocalypse is designed to bring full circle the two X-Men trilogies, simultaneously closing out arcs and introducing (or reintroducing) classic elements for the inevtiable next installment.

“It’s kind of a conclusion of six films — X-Men 1, 2,3, as well as First Class and Days of Future Past — and yet a potential rebirth of younger, newer characters. Even my father, who’s 85, called me and said, ‘Is this the last one?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s not going to be the last X-Men, I can promise you that, Dad.’ But it does have a kind of conclusive aspect to it.”

Despite reports that series leads James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender had reupped their deals for at least a fourth X-Men, McAvoy seemed to leave the impression that this could be the last one, though that could just be him being diplomatic and media savvy.

“Even if this is the last one for me or for other people, you just are sort of grateful for the experience. I know I can speak for a lot of the other guys as well that it’s been a really positive experience for us professionally and socially and personally.”

While McAvoy, Fassbender and Nicholas Hoult aka Beast are game for more (in theory anyway), Jennifer Lawrence previously told the outlet she was done after her contract was up, but recently she said she was “dying” for more. Her indecisiveness shows up even in the midst of the EW interview.

“I would love to come back . . . You realize how important your year is, like how important three months out of your year is. I don’t know. I shouldn’t be that honest.”

The show must go on and it always help to have backup which the second generation of X-leads now have in the form of Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Alexandria Shipp (Storm), Kodi Smit McPhee (Nightcrawler) and Evan Peters (Quicksilver) as the young, new team of X-Men. Simon Kinberg said at least the first three are signed for two more films.

“We needed those kids to be as compelling on screen as Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy and Oscar Isaac, and that’s a tall order. We did feel a lot of pressure to find a young cast that can live up to that caliber of acting.”

I think we can safely assume (until it’s not safe to assume) that a new X-Men film will hit in 2019, probably focused on a proper adaption of the Dark Phoenix story previously mangled in The Last Stand. Singer’s doing some historical revision with these films dating back. It’s like we’re walking through a universe of What If Singer Had Stayed After X2? X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters May 27.

Worshiped as a god since the dawn of civilization, the immortal Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) becomes the first and most powerful mutant. Awakening after thousands of years, he recruits the disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and other mutants to create a new world order. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Professor X (James McAvoy) and Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) lead a team of young X-Men to stop their seemingly invincible nemesis from destroying mankind.

x-men apocalypse

X-men apocalypse

x-men apocalypse

x-men apocalypse

SOURCE: EW (via SuperheroNews.com)

Sam Flynn

Sam Flynn

Sam is a writer and journalist whose passion for pop culture burns with the fire of a thousand suns and at least three LED lamps.