Magneto

The master of magnetism must have his own reasons for joining Apocalypse, right? He must have an angle, something to gain in his path towards the defeat of humanity, right? Well, it’s a bit more complicated.

According to Michael Fassbender, Magneto has always tried to protect his family (the Mutants) and all of his relationships were made to that end. In a sense, they weren’t based on trust, but rather means towards his goals.

This changes, according to the actor, when he meets Magda, with whom he actually gets involved. But things don’t work out for him. And when his lover meets her end, he raises his fists and argues with God (metaphorically, of course). Ultimately, this is what he did his entire life.

And then God arrives – Apocalypse. Of course, he isn’t God, but rather someone way stronger than Magneto. And he sees his chance to have his vengeance: “Again we know him as somebody that doesn’t like to form relationships that much, in the previous ones that I’ve done certainly. So yeah, it’s just like, “This could work.” He hasn’t seen a power like anything like Apocalypse, and the more the better in terms of if you look back to when he was trying to form his own armies, he realizes he can’t do it alone. That was the thing about Days of Future Past, he was kind of a singular, going out there on his own. But this is more about we need numbers to do damage.” (via Screen Rant)

Basically, Magneto is the same Magneto that we know of. However, there is something changed in him, this time, since he has reached his limits. He cannot continue alone any longer and he seeks protection, we might say, as well as an ally: “In a way, it’s like that classic thing of joining any cult or radical group, he’s caught him at a very low, vulnerable point where he doesn’t really care anymore whether he dies or not or what happens, so he’s like, “Yeah I’ll join this guy. I’ll go on this path of judgment.” Apocalypse is sort of bringing judgment to the Earth.”

And this sounds a bit disturbing, having Magneto being just a mindless minion (even if he represents the political factor of the cult).

Until now, he seemed like one of the strongest minds of the Mutant Universe, one who wouldn’t flinch in the face of any danger. It seems pretty weird to see him retreating from a fight he dedicated his life to, only to be with some woman. And then it seems even weirder to have him accept that there is a higher power out there, one without which he cannot win. In a way, it is out of character (at least, the character we saw in the rebooted trilogy).

And then there is the other aspect of apocalypse itself – it will destroy without any discrimination. Thus, humans and mutants alike will perish – will Magneto stand by Apoc’s side, or will he revolt? According to Fassbender’s words, it will be the former.