Warning: there are major spoilers for X-Men: Apocalypse ahead! If you don't want to know what happens in the movie's post-credits scene, turn back now and click on another one of our fine articles.
X-Men: Apocalypse is the conclusion of the "First Class" trilogy, but it's far from the final installment in the X-Men movies series. There are plenty of spinoffs along the way, and it sounds like there may be another main X-Men movie at some point. Regardless, just like The Wolverine and X-Men: Days of Future Past did, X-Men: Apocalypse is including a post-credits scene to tease what's coming in the future. By the time the movie is over, the X-Men has been successful stopping Apocalypse from destroying Earth, but now we know that another major X-Men villain is coming who's just as dangerous in his own peculiar ways.
As explained by Independent, the post-credits scene takes us back to the Weapon X facility where Jean Grey, Cyclops and Nightcrawler were seen in the last trailer, but more importantly, it's also where Wolverine's skeleton was bonded with adamantium. Just like in the original movies, this was overseen by William Stryker, but in this new timeline, Logan was freed from his cell and unleashed on Sryker's soldiers. A mysterious figure in this final scene has to step over the bodies left during Wolverine's escape, but that doesn't deter him. He soon finds what he's looking for: a vial of Wolverine's blood marked "Weapon X." Satisfied with finding his prize, he sticks the vial in a briefcase labeled "ESSEX CORP." The name might be new to the X-Men movie universe, but hardcore X-Men fans know that the briefcase refers to Nathaniel Essex, a.k.a. Mister Sinister.
Mister Sinister made his comic book debut in 1987's Uncanny X-Men #221. As Nathaniel Essex, he was a 19th century geneticist conducting unethical and dangerous experiments for the sake of accelerating evolution via mutation. Soon he crossed paths with Apocalypse, who transformed him into Mister Sinister. Thanks to this genetic alteration, he was given abilities like telekinesis, mind manipulation, shapeshifting, energy projection, regeneration and more. All this, combined with his own natural intellect, makes him one of the X-Men's most dangerous enemies. He may have started out working for Apocalypse, but he's done plenty over the years to stand on his own.
Now that Mister Sinister has been teased in X-Men: Apocalypse, what does that mean for the future of the X-Men franchise? That vial of Wolverine's blood suggests that he'll be involved with Wolverine 3, a.k.a. Hugh Jackman's last appearance as the clawed mutant. While plot details about the threequel are scarce, Richard E. Grant was cast last month as a "villainous mad scientist type," and that certainly fits Mister Sinister to a T. Plus, it was rumored that Wolverine's female clone, X-23, will appear in the movie, so that could point to Sinister being responsible for her creation using Essex Corps' resources.
However, because Mister Sinister doesn't age, that allows him to appear in other X-Men movies taking place in other time periods and look exactly the same. Sinister also has history with Gambit in the comics, so maybe he'll appear in the Ragin' Cajun's solo outing. Maybe he'll appear in the '90s-set X-Men movie, whether that's New Mutants or something else. The point is, if there was any X-Men villain worthy of following Apocalypse, Mister Sinister is the guy. He's been seen in several animated series and video games, but he's finally ready to be brought into live action.
U.S. fans can watch this post-credits scene unfold for themselves when X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters on May 27. In the meantime, let us know what you think of this Mister Sinister tease in the comments below.
