Of all superhero universes currently hitting the big screen, "X-Men" probably has the most confusing storyline of them all. The franchise has gone through ups and downs since it debuted in 2000, and its latest offering, "X-Men: Apocalypse," indicated that the franchise had begun to age.
Sources say that the reset button has been pressed on the "X-Men" franchise. It is expected that the franchise will wrap up the current timeline before a reboot can be expected. Reports suggest that the next "X-Men" film will focus on the "Dark Phoenix Saga" from the comic books. It was the inspiration for 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand," but was not received well by fans and critics.
Sophie Turner made her debut as Jean Grey in "X-Men: Apocalypse." The movie set up Jean's transition in Phoenix by introducing the Phoenix Force in the movie. According to Cinema Blend, the next "X-Men" movie will take place in the 1990s. Ending the franchise with the "Dark Phoenix Saga" set in the 1990s brings the franchise to full circle by getting as close as possible to the timeline in the 2000 "X-Men" film.
The first official X-Men team was formed in "X-Men: Apocalypse," which included Jean Grey, Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler and Quicksilver. It would be interesting to see the next movie focuses on the younger group.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Simon Kinberg is working on a new script, with Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy possibly still appearing as Mystique, Magneto and Professor X. Bryan Singer, who directed the "X-Men" movies, will not return though.
Another sign of wear and tear on the "X-Men" franchise comes in the form of "Logan," Hugh Jackman's last and final outing as Wolverine. The actor appeared in all "X-Men" movies, and his retirement means it is time for the series to return to the drawing board.
There are also plans to expand the franchise to include never-before-seen mutants. Following the success of "Deadpool," there are now plans to bring to life an "X-Force" movie, which will paint a completely different picture of the "X-Men" movies compared to the Wolverine-centric ones.
In the meantime, "Logan" will premiere in theaters on March 3, 2017.