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'X-Men: Apocalypse' trailer 鈥 can the movie continue the franchise's success?

'Apocalypse' features the return of actors Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender as well as new stars like Sophie Turner and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The film will be released this May.

By Molly Driscoll, Staff writer

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming superhero movie 鈥淴-Men: Apocalypse.鈥澛

The newest film features the return of Jennifer Lawrence as the character Mystique as well as James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as friends-turned-enemies Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto. 鈥淎pocalypse鈥 features the debut of actors who are new to the franchise as well, including 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥 actress Sophie Turner as a younger version of the 鈥淴-Men鈥 character Jean Grey and Kodi Smit-McPhee of 鈥淪low West鈥 as a younger version of the 鈥淴-Men鈥 character Nightcrawler.聽

鈥淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens鈥 actor Oscar Isaac stars as villain Apocalypse, who threatens various X-Men while others choose to team up with him.聽

The new film will be the third starring Lawrence, Fassbender, and McAvoy and is the follow-up to the 2014 critically acclaimed box office hit 鈥淴-Men: Days of Future Past.鈥澛

To continue that success, how should 鈥淎pocalypse鈥 resemble the hit movie 鈥淒ays鈥?聽

鈥淒ays鈥 centered on X-Man Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), who time-travels back to the 1970s to attempt to stop a disaster. He meets younger versions of characters like Professor Xavier and Erik, as portrayed by McAvoy and Fassbender. Monitor film critic Peter Rainer wrote that he found some of the time-travel mechanics confusing but that the movie was enjoyable because of its funny tone and well executed, small moments.聽

鈥淲hat elevates this film above most of its predecessors is the dynamic action filmmaking and, above all, its wit,鈥 Rainer wrote. He notes that a scene in which superhero Quicksilver (Evan Peters) moves quickly in order to tilt the action in favor of his friends is 鈥渞elatively free from mayhem" but is聽鈥渁 classic sequence."

Those making 鈥淎pocalypse鈥 shouldn鈥檛 be afraid to make the proceedings light at times and to add quiet moments to the movie.

Judging by the review written by Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times, those behind the 鈥淴-Men鈥 films also shouldn鈥檛 be afraid to discuss weighty themes in the movies. 鈥淎llowing one of the mutant corps to travel back to save a perilous present paves the way for all of the X-Men to find their better selves,鈥 Ms. Sharkey wrote. 鈥淎nd who wouldn't want a chance to do that? 鈥 鈥楩uture Past鈥 is a deeper, richer, more thoughtful film, more existential in its contemplations than earlier 鈥榅s.鈥欌

While easier said than done, bringing on the right cast members for the franchise is also crucial. Fassbender, McAvoy, and Lawrence鈥檚 turns in the movies have been praised since their first appearances in 2011鈥檚 鈥淴-Men: First Class,鈥 and Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers called Fassbender and McAvoy 鈥渂oth terrific鈥 while writing that 鈥渇or scene-stealing, the prize goes to Jennifer Lawrence, whose shape-shifting, blue-skinned Mystique is a match for any man or mutant.鈥澛

While it remains to be seen whether the trio will return for any 鈥淴-Men鈥 movies after 鈥淎pocalypse,鈥 good casting decisions could be on display with the newbies to the films, of which there are several in 鈥淎pocalypse.鈥 Fans will no doubt be curious to see how Ms. Turner, Mr. Smit-McPhee, Olivia Munn, Alexandra Shipp, and Tye Sheridan do in the new film.