While the fans were a tad disappointed of how Apocalypse looks (though this is an understatement), they sure have a lot to look for as far as the X-Men universe is concerned. At least this is what Simon Kinberg says - one of the writers and producers of the movies thus far. So what did he say that raised our expectations?
Well, quite a few things! So let's start with the beginning - which is also next year's first superhero flick!
Deadpool - it's just the beginning
As far as Deadpool is concerned, what we know is that it is a passion project of Ryan Reynolds and that it is an R-rated. What we didn't know is that Kinberg has seen the first cut of the movie already and it was fantastic (we don't know if Kinberg used the word with bitterness). And he also said something else, where the interesting part of the story comes.
According to Kinberg, they started talking about a sequel since they started shooting this first flick. And the studio agreed to this - of course, there was a rumor that the Deadpool sequel will be released instead of the Fantastic Four one, but we can call it debunked.
When is it supposed to hit? There is no clue about that. Although the writer/producer did say that Cable will be featured. But this isn't all.
Check out the next page too!
Cable - leading Deadpool to the X-Men
Here's what he said: "We certainly are talking about the sequel - we were talking about the sequel while we were making the movie just because when you make a film like this that's from a serialized source material, you hope that it's the first of many. But yeah [Fox is] feeling good about it, we're all feeling really proud of it, so hopefully before it comes out we will be well into the process of figuring out a sequel." (via Screen Rant)
Obviously, Cable has a pretty rich history - and he was actually supposed to make a brief appearance in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Thankfully, it didn't happen that way, so Kinberg said that he will most likely introduce him in the sequel - obviously, if the Deadpool franchise proves bankable.
And, at this point, given the fact that time-traveling has already been introduced in the X-Men universe and given the fact that Apocalypse is known to make these kinds of jumps, can we expect for Cable to pop-up in X-Men: Apocalypse? We sure can - and even if it won't be a cameo, we sure can expect for an Easter-Egg of some kind.
And thus Deadpool has one connection with the X-Men universe, even if Ryan Reynolds said that it would be difficult to introduce him into the larger universe.
On the next page, Apocalypse!
Staying true to the comics
“I feel like we have been, the 'X-Men' franchise, has been growing a little bit more into science fiction. I think 'Days of Future Past' with time travel and the Sentinels took us into a slightly broader, more science fiction world than the films had occupied in the past. We felt like the movies were ready for something that was slightly more, let's say, cosmic. Once we made the decision for Apocalypse to be the villain at the center of the movie, we wanted to be true to the comics, which are sort of, like you, say, not costume, but it's not just a guy in a helmet. It is more cosmic.” (via Comic Book Movie)
So what does that mean for the future of the X-Men series?
First, it means that Apocalypse will stay true to the character's comic book origins. Then it means that the above concept art actually depicts an alien spaceship, something that we haven't seen until now in the X-Men Movie Universe. And from this on, the sky is the limit!
What sky? Check out the next page for further explanation concerning the crossovers!
X-Men: Days of Future Past - opening new possibilities
As said, the time travel has already been introduced in the X-Men Universe. But does that mean that what we've seen so far was completely erased? Not really - what happened was the introduction of subtle changes into the timeline, right after the "˜70's. And this means that this new universe will be inhabited by other characters as well, characters who weren't found in the previous movies.
Such is the case of Deadpool - and such is the case of Gambit.
Kinberg did say, for the moment, that these characters exist in the same universe - however, it doesn't necessarily means that they will immediately interact. Although Colossus appearing in the Deadpool movie surely contradicts him"¦
And this does open a new possibility. Check it out on the next page!
What about the Fantastic Four?
After this year's mess, will Fox continue making Fantastic Four movies? Apparently they will.
The point is that the time travel also brings the idea of alternate realities - which is a neat concept, since it exponentially increases the number of possibilities. Thus, if there is an alternate reality in which the events of X-Men: Last Stand took place, then there is also a reality in which Jean Grey never turned into the Phoenix.
Also, if there is a reality in which the mutants (and the X-Men) exist, there is also another one, in which there are no mutants. But there can be some other kinds of superheroes, such as the Fantastic Four. So the premise is right there, for the taking.
But will Fox gamble and make an X-Men/Fantastic Four crossover? A year ago this was a good idea - we have no clue as to what this idea might bring right now.
Check out the next page to see Psylocke in action!