So Bryan Singer takes to Twitter, as Bryan Singer loves to do, and reveals simply that X-Men: Apocalypse will be in theaters in 2016. The Internet responds, as the Internet loves to do, with passionate speculation. Who will direct? Who will star? Who’ll be back, and who will pass?
Today, we have some concrete details. Vulture is going on record to say that Singer – beyond being the "Mad Tweeter" – will also direct X-Men: Apocalypse after putting the finishing touches on X-Men: Days of Future Past. This wouldn’t be the first back-to-back foray into mutant-dom for the storyteller. He famously helmed X-Men and X2: X-Men United in 2000 and 2003 before taking a break and focusing on movies like Superman Returns, Valkyrie and the childrens’ fantasy Jack the Giant Slayer.
Now that he’s back in the X-wheelhouse, though, it appears as if Singer wants to stay a while. He’ll work closely with Simon Kinberg, who signed a three-year deal with Fox to continue developing both the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises for the studio. This has led some sites to speculate that we might one day see a team-up or "versus" movie for the two franchises, but that seems like a stretch. Instead, it’s wise for Fox to continue developing the X-Men universe, which has so much talent split between the classic and First Class universes. Once time travel is established in Days, there will be so many original directions in which this series can go.
There was a rumor, however, that made the rounds over the weekend about Apocalypse, and how the massive villain might enter the X-Men universe. It furthered the notion that Apocalypse would be a natural sequel to the First Class universe, allowing the older X-Men – Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and such – to check in where needed (or wait for their own sequel). I don’t want to discuss the reveal here, but if you care to research how one site believes Apocalypse will appear on screen at the end of Days of Future Past, head on over to FirstShowing and prepare to be spoiled.
Still with us? OK, so, Singer is on board. Do you think that’s a good hire for Apocalypse? Should Fox have tried to lure Matthew Vaughn back into the fray? Should they have tried a completely new voice? Or do you think that the studio loved what it saw out of Days, and just wants to maintain continuity? Because the first two X-Men movies connected with the comics crowd. If this were Brett Ratner signing on for yet another X-Men movie, maybe we’d have reason to panic!
X-Men: Days of Future Past is gearing up for a May 23, 2014 release. Apocalypse will follow on May 27, 2016. Singer is at helm, according to reports. Share your thoughts below.
