X-Men: Apocalypse - What We Know So Far 

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Once upon a time, sequels to major blockbusters were a bonus, not a given. Now, studios enter into long-term negotiations with actors, directors and screenwriters to map out multi-part storylines knowing that it�s not enough just to deliver a hit movie � you have to build a franchise.

20th Century Fox understands that about the current

X-Men series, which continues to ride a wave of superhero-fan goodwill thanks to the spectacular X-Men: Days of Future Past. Yet, even before a minute of that movie had screened in theaters, the studio already had plans in place for the next film: X-Men: Age of Apocalypse.

What do we already know about the next X-Men movie? A decent amount, actually, as Bryan Singer was very active on social media during the filming of X-Men: Apocalypse as he works to deliver the latest in mutant mayhem, and we got this brand new trailer at the end of 2015:

Who is making this movie? What�s going on with the plot? How do all of the characters from the previous movies factor in? Well, slip on your cinematic Cerebro because you�re about to be schooled in all things X-Men: Apocalypse, starting with:

After a multi-year absence from the franchise he helped launch back in 2000, Bryan Singer made his triumphant return to the superhero series for

X-Men: Days of Future Past. And by reuniting his original X-Men with the younger X-Men: First Class team, Singer appeared to have laid the groundwork for multiple sequels that could utilize various members of the massive mutant ensemble (while also hitting the reset button on the continuity). Singer has been working hard finishing X-Men: Apocalypse, and shared photos of from the set and provided other bits of insight. The filmmaker has promised that the movie will be more epic and longer than previous installments, and it�s understandable why � there�s a lot packed into this movie!

X-Men: Days of Future Past took place in the early 1970s, but X-Men: Apocalypse will be jumping ahead approximately a decade and will be set in the early 1980s. What this means is that Bryan Singer and his team are including younger versions of characters like Jean Grey, Cyclops and Storm in the narrative. Writer/producer Simon Kinberg has confirmed that the movie will be specifically set in 1983, or 10 years after the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past. Now that the existence of mutants has been exposed to the world, they wind up getting a mixed reaction � with some believing that they are holy figures. It�s this belief that winds up in worshipers reawakening Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), an immortal mutant from ancient Egypt who basically has the powers of a god. Of course, it�s up to Professor Charles Xavier and his team of X-Men to stop this terrifying being before he destroys every human on Earth.

Let�s catch up with the most important character in the history of the X-Men. Remember how handsome James McAvoy was in

X-Men: First Class and Days of Future Past, with his flowing locks of chestnut hair? That�s all going away. It�s been revealed that the telekinetic mutant has finally gone bald in

- though he hangs strong in the narrative as the leader of Charles Xavier�s School For Gifted Youngsters and his team of mutants. Footages has revealed Xavier being put through emotional hell, as his former friend Magneto continues to betray him and the power of Apocalypse continues to overwhelm him. Should make for some very interesting material

A survivor of the Holocaust who has seen the worst of mankind, Magneto (as portrayed by Michael Fassbender) has really managed to become an understandable and relatable character over the years � despite the fact that he has goals to wipe out humanity. Since

, he has been torn between good and evil, and it�s sadly been evil that has won out pretty much every time. He was last seen fleeing from Washington D.C. after being shot by Mystique, and there is serious trouble ahead for him in

It�s not entirely clear what kind of life Magneto has been living in the years between 1973 and 1983, but the bad news is that he comes face to face and aligned with Apocalypse. In the new

movie, he is one of the mutants who winds up being enlisted as one of the Four Horsemen � though exactly how The First One gets Magneto on his side isn�t entirely clear right now.

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