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



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



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



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



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.