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X-Men: Dark Phoenix marks the directorial debut of Simon Kinberg, longtime writer in the X-Men film franchise. Set a decade after the events of X-Men: Apocalypse, the film stars Sophie Turner's Jean Grey and Tye Sheridan's Cyclops in an adaptation of the classic 'Dark Phoenix Saga'. Franchise leads James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Lawrence are all reprising their popular roles, while Jessica Chastain plays the as-yet-unidentified main villain.

Movie Title: X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Release Date: February 14, 2019
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Evan Peters, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Sophie Turner
Director: Simon Kinberg
Writer: Simon Kinberg

THE HEROES CAST OF X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

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X-Men: Apocalypse closed out with a new team of X-Men, still led by James McAvoy's Professor Xavier, Nicholas Hoult's Beast, and Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique. X-Men: Dark Phoenix's plot is focused around Tye Sheridan's Cyclops and Sophie Turner's Jean Grey, with the rest of the new team - including Alexandra Shipp's Storm, Evan Peters's Quicksilver, and Kodi Smit-McPhee's Nightcrawler - all returning. Michael Fassbender will reprise the role of Magneto, the X-Men's ambiguous sometimes ally, apparently reinvented as the ruler of the mutant nation of Genosha. Olivia Munn is also expected to return as Psylocke.

JESSICA CHASTAIN IS PLAYING A MYSTERIOUS MAIN VILLAIN

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Jessica Chastain is confirmed as the film's main villain. There were initial reports she was playing Lilandra, Empress of the Shi'ar, but Chastain debunked these rumors on social media. Since then, Fox has kept pretty quiet about her role. The latest rumors suggest Chastain may be playing Miss Sinister, a gender-swapped version of a classic X-Men villain who's obsessed with Cyclops and Jean Grey's genetic code. Sinister was subtly teased in the post-credits scene for X-Men: Apocalypse, although that's generally accepted as a teaser for Logan.

THE SKRULLS ARE EXPECTED TO APPEAR

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There are strong rumors that X-Men: Dark Phoenix will see the X-Men encounter the alien race known as the Skrulls. If these rumors are accurate, these shape-shifting Marvel villains will be making their debut in both the X-Men and MCU universes in 2019. The rights are shared between Fox and Marvel, and Marvel Studios is planning to use the Skrulls in Captain Marvel.

THE STORY OF X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

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X-Men: Dark Phoenix is loosely adapted from Chris Claremont and John Byrne's classic "Dark Phoenix Saga." The X-Men: Dark Phoenix official synopsis teases a difficult moral dilemma for the X-Men:

"One of their own members, Jean Grey, has gained power beyond all comprehension, and that power has corrupted her absolutely! Now they must decide if the life of the woman they cherish is worth the existence of the entire universe!"

According to first reports, the plot of X-Men: Dark Phoenix is set in 1992. It's been a decade since X-Men: Apocalypse and the X-Men have been embraced as superheroes. Professor X, who has even been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, is inspired to push his X-Men team into taking on increasingly dangerous and even reckless missions. A mission into space exposes the X-Jet to a solar flare, transforming Jean Grey into the power-hungry force known as the Phoenix.

The comic book story is one of the X-Men's more cosmic adventures, featuring the Dark Phoenix consuming an entire star system, but writer-director Simon Kinberg has insisted that the story needs to be "grounded" and "not too intergalactic." The relationship between Cyclops and Jean Grey will be "a huge part of the emotional core of the movie." There are reports that the film closes with a massive plot twist "that will irrevocably change the course of the franchise." Curiously, Olivia Munn has actually suggested that Dark Phoenix may be "a two-parter ," but there's no official word on that yet.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX'S FRANCHISE CONNECTIONS

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X-Men: Dark Phoenix continues the timeline launched by X-Men: Days of Future Past, and ties to the events depicted in the end of X-Men: Apocalypse. That film served as the "apocalypse," or "unveiling," of the power that lay within Jean Grey. In the film's third act, Jean unleashed her power upon Apocalypse, destroying the evil mutant.

If the rumors that Jessica Chastain is playing Miss Sinister are correct, the post-credits scene of X-Men: Apocalypse also ties into Dark Phoenix. The scene saw representatives of "Essex Corp" retrieving DNA samples from the wrecked Weapon X lab. "Essex Corp" was a clear nod to classic X-Men villain Mr. Sinister, whose real name is Nathaniel Essex.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR RESHOOTS

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X-Men: Dark Phoenix was originally slated to release on November 2, 2018, but has now been pushed back to February 14, 2019. There are reports that Fox intended to carry out reshoots after screening the film for test audiences. Unfortunately, Sophie Turner was tied up with filming on Game of Thrones, and her schedule couldn't accommodate the reshoots. These reshoots apparently focus on the film's third act, and are expected to cost less than $10 million.

THE CAST SEEM VERY CONFIDENT IN X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

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The cast of X-Men: Dark Phoenix seem to be remarkably confident in the film. Sophie Turner has promised "a dark, gritty drama" that will "revolutionize" the superhero genre. "We wanted to create a whole new genre of superhero movie," Turner explained. Tye Sheridan has agreed, stressing that Dark Phoenix is "more of a drama versus a superhero film.”

THERE IS NO X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX TRAILER YET

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The marketing push for X-Men: Dark Phoenix had just been beginning when Fox decided to push the release date back. As a result, the studio is yet to release a trailer or any official footage.

HERE IS NO OFFICIAL POSTER FOR X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX YET

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Fox is yet to release an official poster for X-Men: Dark Phoenix. All we have seen to date are a handful of official images.

SIMON KINBERG IS WRITING AND DIRECTING X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

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Longtime X-Men writer Simon Kinberg is making his directorial debut with X-Men: Dark Phoenix. The cast has nothing but praise for Kinberg, with Sophie Turner declaring him "one of the best directors I've ever worked with." Jennifer Lawrence confirmed this is the "best experience" she's had working on the X-Men films. "[Kinberg's] been writing these characters for so long and he knows them so deeply," she explained. "I suddenly felt more connected to my character than I ever have been before."