X-Men: Apocalypse may be slightly overshadowed by the big boys of Marvel and DC at the moment, but that’s not to say fans aren’t eagerly anticipating and speculating on the next X-Men film. The series has spanned 16 years and is the 12th highest-grossing film franchise of all time, earning over $3.5 billion worldwide at the box office.
As with any superhero movie with this much of a following, there have been many rumors and rumblings about what fans can expect from a film that promises to be an epic conclusion and, according to director Bryan Singer, isn’t just the final chapter in the First Class trilogy, but “the climax of six movies, beginning with X-Men 1”.
Here are Screen Rant’s 10 X-Men: Apocalypse Rumors We Want To Be True.
10. Wolverine appears
Considering that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has appeared in six X-Men-branded movies so far, this would seem like a given. However, he’s not been officially announced as being in the film and, if he is, his role in it is being kept under wraps. Jackman was part of the film’s Comic-Con panel last year and was reported to have been in Montreal for reshoots. If he does appear in the film, it’ll likely be not much more than a cameo.
Having said that, some of the wilder rumors have come from fans familiar with Ages of Apocalypse lead-in story Apocalypse: The Twelve where a brainwashed Wolverine becomes one of Apocalypse’s Four Horsemen, namely Death. It’s unlikely, but based on the information we already have, it seems that the line-up of the Horsemen could be in flux and allegiances will change over the course of the film’s run time. Could they take Logan to a darker place in preparation for Jackman’s third and probably final Wolverine solo movie?
9. X-Men: Apocalypse fixes the series’ timeline/continuity problems
The X-Men films so far have played fast and loose with their timelines. The movies started before meticulous series continuity was popular and every film after X-Men: The Last Stand has further written the franchise into a corner. The ages of the characters and the eras they inhabit are all over the place. Days of Future Pastacted as a soft reboot for the series, but there are still pieces and elements that don’t quite fit.
One of the key things still not addressed is the change in relationship between Xavier and Mystique. In First Class, Charles and Raven grew up together, having a sibling-like bond. However, in 2000’s X-Men, Xavier and Mystique don’t recognize or even react to each other at all. X-Men: Apocalypse could end up with both characters having their memories wiped to make sense of this, as well as tying up a few of the other loose threads.
8. Mystique is Nightcrawler’s mother
It’s well-known in the comics that Mystique is Nightcrawler’s biological mother. However, his established mutant father, Azazel, was killed off in First Class. The two meeting and conceiving a child within the timespan of First Class doesn’t make much sense considering they never interact, but the writers could have gone their own way with who Kurt Wagner’s parents are.
However, there are rumblings that Mystique is still Kurt’s mother. Due to her powers, it’s hard to tell how old Raven actually is, but it’s possible she met someone and became pregnant in the years between Days of Future Past and Apocalypse. If this turned out to be true, it would accomplish several things, such as bringing the films closer to the comics, opening up some dramatic possibilities and giving the young Nightcrawler some soul-searching to do.
7. Cable is referenced, possibly has a cameo
Apocalypse looks to be the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. Fox have been trying to establish their own Marvel shared universe and with the massive success of Deadpool, it seems like they’re on their way to building an interconnected world.
One of the things that could potentially be teased is the long-overdue arrival of Cable into the fold. His appearance has already been mentioned in a fourth-wall breaking post credits scene in Deadpool and it’s not outside the realm of possibility that we at least get some kind of Nathan Summers reference. It’s even possible that they could have secretly cast him and he makes an appearance in the movie, ready for his starring role in Deadpool 2.
6. We get the definitive versions of fan-favorite characters
While (mostly) good movies, the X-Men series has not been entirely faithful to the original comics. Apocalypse may change that. From the trailer, it looks like Xavier has finally gone bald and Cyclops has a proper visor this time.
What’s interesting is what we haven’t seen. Will the movie shift to be more accurate to the source material? We didn’t see Logan pop his claws at the end of Days of Future Past, so we’re in the dark as to whether he’s still got his bone claws or his adamantium ones due to the timeline being changed. The appearance of Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s more traditional New Mutants-inspired uniform in Deadpool has also started speculation that the X-Men will have more comic accurate attire at some point in the film, something which fans have been begging Bryan Singer for since the first movie. These could all be positive steps into making the characters more like their comic counterparts.
5. Mr. Sinister is introduced
As the name obviously suggests, X-Men: Apocalypse will focus on Apocalypse himself. However, it’s likely that seeds will be sown for future X films. One rumored element is the introduction of Mr. Sinister, an iconic X-Men villain not seen on the big screen as of yet.
For people unfamiliar with Sinister, real name Nathaniel Essex, he’s a shadowy, calculating figure with superhuman mental and physical abilities. A scientific genius, he plans and schemes, manipulating those around him like a powerful puppetmaster. He’s basically the Marvel equivalent of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. Over the course of the comics, Sinister becomes obsessed with the Summers brothers, Scott in particular, and pushes them around like pawns on his personal chessboard. An appearance would make sense as the character was given his powers by Apocalypse. His debut would promise big things from future installments and give the X-Men a wholly different kind of enemy to face.
4. Familiar faces from the original trilogy return
If X-Men: Apocalypse is closing the book on what has come before it’d make sense to have some original trilogy actors appear to pass the torch to the newer generation of X-Men.
Patrick Stewart was quoted as saying he thought he and best pal Ian McKellen were done with the films, only to slightly backtrack later, dodging the question about whether he would show up and confirming that Sir Ian might be making an appearance. There has been some talk of Halle Berry turning up as Storm again too. James Marsden also expressed an interest in returning as Cyclops. It’d be fitting to give the original cast one last hurrah before moving on to new pastures and, if James Marsden came on board, a chance to rectify how badly they treated his character.
3. Deadpool has a cameo
Since general moviegoing audiences are now familiar with who the Merc with a Mouth is, it’s entirely possible he’ll make an appearance in an X-Men film at some point.
Even before Deadpool became a bone fide hit, there were rumors that Deadpool himself might be in Apocalypse. Producer Simon Kinberg confirmed that X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool exist in the same universe and has made no secret in his intent to craft a shared universe, so it’s not impossible. Psylocke actress Olivia Munn shared a video on Instagram earlier this year, which showcased her impressive sword skills and featured Ryan Reynolds rather pathetically hitting her with a balloon sword. This led to gossip that Mr. Pool may be making an appearance after all.
If Deadpool were to appear, it’s possible it’d be a younger, pre-suit Wade Wilson. However, considering the nature of Deadpool, nothing’s off the table. It’d be great to see Deadpool interact with more of the X-Men, especially Professor X.
2. We’ll get a non-MCU Scarlet Witch
Fox and Marvel have a unique deal that allows them to share the characters Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, better known as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, which enabled both Joss Whedon and Bryan Singer to use Pietro in Age of Ultron and Days of Future Past respectively.
Despite Elizabeth Olsen being confirmed as playing Scarlet Witch inCaptain America: Civil War, it’s likely that Fox will want their own spin on Wanda at some point, with the possibility of her even appearing in Apocalypse. A red-haired girl has already been glimpsed in Days of Future Past, leading to speculation, but according to Bryan Singer, that was another Maximoff sibling and not Pietro’s twin. It’d be great to see another take on the character and the twins fighting together again.
1. Channing Tatum’s Gambit will make his debut
One of the more persistent rumors concerning X-Men: Apocalypse is that fan-favorite character Gambit will appear, played by Channing Tatum. After years of floating around a solo Gambit movie and plenty of hearsay, Tatum was officially locked in to play the character late last year. Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt was originally attached, but dropped out, leaving Doug Liman, director of Edge of Tomorrow, to step in. However, these late negotiations bumped the Gambit film from Fox’s 2016 calendar, meaning that we won’t get to see it for a least a couple of years.
However, as the deal has been finalized, who’s to say that Gambit won’t make an appearance in Apocalypse? It’d be a nice introduction to a hopefully better fleshed out and realized version on the character than we saw in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It’d also be a good indication of Tatum’s take on the Ragin’ Cajun and it could give fans something to get hyped for in the future.
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Any other rumors you wish would come true in this summer’s X-Men: Apocalypse? Let us know in the comments!
X-Men: Apocalypseopens on May 27, 2016.
