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As per usual, Entertainment Weekly has the first concrete details and images for another upcoming superhero blockbuster, this time the newest Bryan Singer-directed X-Men adventure: X-Men: Apocalypse.

In the above cover, you can see how screen-accurate to 90’s era comics Singer and team are aiming for in regard to Olivia Munn‘s Psylocke, and Oscar Isaac is practically unrecognizable as the title villain.

The latter spoke to his new role in the same report:

 “He’s believed to be the first mutant, whatever that means,” says star Oscar Isaac. “He is the ­creative-slash-destructive force of this earth. When things start to go awry, or when things seem like they’re not moving towards evolution, he destroys those civilizations.”

EW also elaborates a bit on just what Apocalypse is up to in the film and the shape of his Four Horsemen:

As the new film opens, 10 years have passed and Raven (Lawrence), Charles (McAvoy), and Erik (Michael Fassbender) are still estranged, but not for much longer. The Big A awakens from his Egyptian tomb, sizes up the global ’80s vibe, and decides he’s not down with the Reagan era. “It’s a chaotic world of conflict and war and destruction,” Singer says. “It’s one giant civilization that now requires one giant culling. That’s why he needs ­special assistants in this process.” He finds teenage Storm living on the streets in Cairo, Angel (Ben Hardy) duking it out in a fight club in Berlin, and Psylocke (Olivia Munn) working behind the Iron Curtain for the mutant-broker Caliban. But his big get is Erik, who has been attempting to live a “normal” life in Poland. “He’s fallen in love and he’s basically left his metal ways behind,” Fassbender says. Pretty quickly, though, his world is shattered and “normal” is no longer an option. Says Fassbender, “Apocalypse finds Erik at a low ebb and recruits him.”

An interesting new take on this era of the team, and this might prove to be a good way to keep Fassbender around for another film. Or perhaps not, as I found the leaked footage out of SDCC to be pretty underwhelming (and I thought the same for the Deadpool trailer). Either way, we’ll find out next May.

Bryan Singer continues to add young mutants to his ensemble cast for X-Men: Apocalypse, which currently consists of teenage versions of Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee); along with the adult-aged Professor Xavier (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence).

Now The Wrap reports that Ben Hardy (EastEnders) is in talks to join in a “key, as-yet-undisclosed role” in the 1980’s set sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past. At one point, Hardy was one of the actors in contention for Cyclops, so the fact that he would stay on Singer’s radar is a good sign.

One look at Hardy and it’s hard to imagine him playing anyone but Angel, especially given that Oscar Isaac‘s Apocalypse is the film’s antagonist. The report’s sources say that he’s been cast in an altogether different role though, so it remains to be seen.

Deadpool keeps adding to their growing cast, and they now have their female lead as Morena Baccarin (Homeland, Firefly) has signed onto the X-Men spinoff.

Who she’s playing is being kept under wraps, but THR reports that she’ll be playing the love interest of Ryan Reynolds‘ Wade Wilson.

Baccarin had fairly stiff competition for the unnamed role including Orange Is The New Black star Taylor Schilling, Jessica De Gouw, Crystal Reed, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Sarah Greene.

The popular actress joins Reynolds, Gina Carano, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, and whoever is cast in the still unfilled role of Colossus, as Daniel Cudmore recently stated that he will not be returning.

Deadpool, directed by Tim Miller with a script from Rhett Reese, hits theaters on February 12, 2016.

Didn’t I tell you to follow Bryan Singer‘s Instagram?

Late last night, the X-Men: Apocalypse director announced another piece of news regarding the production: the casting of Kodi Smit-McPhee (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Let Me In) as Nightcrawler.

It was really only a matter of time before one of Singer’s favorite mutants re-appeared, as the director almost included a Nightcrawler scene in X-Men: Days of Future Past, but scrapped it at the last minute.

Smit-McPhee joins new cast additions Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, and Alexandra Shipp in playing a younger version of a role previously cast by Singer. In this instance, he will be taking over for Alan Cumming, who was one of the stand-outs of X2: X-Men United.

This isn’t Smit-McPhee’s first shot at the X-Men Universe, as he was originally cast as Young Logan in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but dropped out to instead film The Road. He clearly dodged a bullet, hopefully his good senses have remained and it’s a good omen for Apocalypse.

X-Men: Apocalypse opens on May 27, 2016.

And we were just talking about Deadpool yesterday…

Former mixed martial artist and Haywire star Gina Carano has signed on to the Ryan Reynolds starring X-Men spin-off. THR has relayed that she’ll be playing a character named Angel Dust, and while my X-Men universe knowledge is deplorable, I understand she’s a part of the Morlocks.

It was only a matter of time before one of these superhero flicks picked up Carano, whose action chops are impeccable.

Additionally they report that T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley) is in place for a comic relief role, and that Colossus will also be returning for the picture. There’s no indication whether or not Daniel Cudmore will still be playing him, but fans of the character have to be a little excited that there’s a chance he’ll get some of the spotlight finally.

Here’s their description of the film, directed by Tim Miller and scheduled to open on February 12, 2016:

Reynolds is an assassin who is dying of cancer who undergoes a procedure that is supposed to cure him but ends up twisted and scarred while also imbued with super-powers.

Sophie Turner, Photo: Tatler UK

A couple of months back, The Wrap had reported a list of young actors and actresses that were in contention to take over the roles of Young Jean Grey and Scott Summers in the forthcoming X-Men: Apocalypse. While movement on these roles had slowed a bit due the holidays, it looks like some more contenders have joined the fray, along with an additional shortlist of actresses that are testing for the role of Storm.

According to Latino Review, Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Jamie Blackley (If I Stay), and Tye Sheridan (Mud) are in line for the role of Cyclops. Jeff Sneider over at The Wrap states that Sheridan is the leading contender for the role. He’s a phenomenal talent, so its hard not to get excited about that possibility, especially if Bryan Singer might finally give Cyclops his due for once.

Also, in that same tweet, Sneider states that Chloe Grace Moretz passed on the role of Jean Grey, opening up the possibility of Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) or Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, The Grand Budapest Hotel). We’ve yet to see Turner put on an American accent as far as I know, but she seems the more ideal choice. Though truthfully, if you dye Ronan’s hair red, I’d probably say the same for her. She’s the performer with the most diverse resume of anyone on this list.

Alexandra Shipp, publicity photo

As for Ororo, its being reported that Alexandra Shipp (Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B) and Zendaya Coleman (Shake It Up) are testing for the role. Given that Apocalypse takes place in the 1980’s, the chances of getting a Mohawked Storm are pretty high.

Whoever is cast, they’ll be joining the already returning Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, and the recently cast as the title villain Oscar Isaac. X-Men: Apocalypse will release on May 27. 2016.