X-Men: Apocalypse to arrive in 2016

X-Men fans and film buffs anxiously awaiting for the dystopian-centered sequel “X-Men: Days of Future Past” on May 23 next year are in for some breaking news, as returning X-Men franchise director Bryan Singer has made the big and surprising announcement that another X-Men sequel is in the works and coming in 2016, and it’s called “X-Men: Apocalypse.” 

 

 

If the title didn’t clue one in at first, then those familiar with the comics will know that it’s a direct reference to one of the X-Men’s greatest adversaries – Apocalypse: An ancient and immortal mutant born 5000 years ago who augmented his powers with Celestial technology, and seeks to enslave the world to his own will. 

 

The character first appeared in 1986 in the pages of X-Factor #6, and was created by comic book writer and artist couple Louise and Walter Simonson. Since his creation, the villain has been responsible for a number of incidents in the X-Men Universe, including infecting a young Cable with the Techno-Organic virus, and turning founding X-Man Angel into the metallic winged warrior known as Death and later Archangel. Even after being defeated or killed numerous times over the years, Apocalypse, also known by his birth name as En Sabah Nur, always finds a way to come back, and has persistently targeted humanity in mutantkind alike, to which Charles Xavier and his X-Men have repeatedly battled to thwart his plans of world domination.

 

However, a pivotal storyline by Marvel in the 90’s explored an alternate reality where Apocalypse succeeded in conquering most of Earth, which came to be known as the “Age Of Apocalypse”. Temporarily replacing most Marvel Comics in 1995, the crossover event occurs when the X-Men fail to stop Charles Xavier’s son Legion from travelling back in time and accidentally killing his father, thereby causing the alternate timeline to take effect. Promising his dying friend that he would carry on his dream of humans and mutants coexisting together, Magneto becomes the leader and founder of the X-Men, and despite fighting to resist Apocalypse’s rule, is unable to stop the tyrant from taking over North America and making mutants the dominant ruling class. 

 

As Bryan Singer has only announced the title and release date, it’s anyone’s guess what the plot for “X-Men: Apocalypse” will be. Yet looking back at the history and various storylines featuring the character, here’s hoping Age of Apocalypse is chosen as the plotline for the next film.

 

X-Men: Apocalypse arrives in theaters on May 27, 2016. — TJD, GMA News