As with the Apes franchise, we haven't yet had the first sequel to X-Men: First Class, but we're already talking about the third instalment. X-Men: Days Of Future Past arrives shortly, but all eyes are now on X-Men: Apocalypse, the nascent existence of which director Bryan Singer revealed just before Christmas. Singer has now given some further cursory details of what's in store in 2016.
"It will address historical mutant-cy," Singer told EW, "meaning the deep past, mutant origins and things like that. It’s something that’s always intrigued me when we think about our Gods and our history and miracles and powers.”
In terms of specific plot, the director is saying nothing, but does confirm that "something that happens in** Days Of Future Past** causes what's going to happen in Apocalypse". He says he's as-yet undecided about whether there will be an Apocalypse teaser during the credits of this year's movie. Given recent precedent, however, we wouldn't call it unlikely.
And will Singer actually direct Apocalypse? That too is still to be determined. "I’m co-writing the story and I’m producing it,” he says, "and I’m negotiating to direct. We’re in the process. We’re trying to figure it out, schedules. My desire would be to direct it.”
For more Apocalyptic speculation, head over to Empire's handy first-thoughts guide. The mention of "historical mutant-cy" suggests that the film will play with the idea that Apocalypse is maybe the very first mutant, who's been around on Earth for a very long time.
Days Of Future Past, meanwhile, stars Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Peter Dinklage, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Fan Bingbing, Daniel Cudmore... the list goes on.{X-Men
Sadly, it will not feature Anna Paquin, but if it's any consolation we did just learn that Evan Jonigkeit is playing Toad. It's out in the UK on May 23.