"X-Men: Apocalypse" Director Bryan Singer can't help but compare the mutants portrayed in his film with biblical characters. At first, he called the villain Apocalypse as the "god of the Old Testament." He then backtracked and said that Apocalypse really isn't God.
"He's the first mutant perhaps, but he's not God necessarily. He's imbued with certain unique powers. Some of them may or may not be from this Earth, we don't know," the director told Collider.
During a separate interview with IGN, Singer said Apocalypse is a false god and is more like a cult leader because he preys on the weak. The character has a knack of "finding people at a time in a moment when there's emptiness, when there's a need," the director said.
After Apocalypse wins their trust and devotion, he requires his followers to adhere to a certain order and worship him, Singer said.
"[Apocalypse is] kind of the opposite of Christ, actually. Christ would have come years after him, by the way," he added.
In contrast, Singer said Professor Charles Xavier, who is the leader of the X-Men, is a "Christ figure" because he stands for goodness.
"I've gotten to explore Professor X when he was an older, bald, wise man, when he's insecure, when he's defenceless, when he's powerful," he said. "He chooses to be a teacher. He could go inside Cerebro and rule the world, but he chooses not to. He chooses to teach and preach and hope that people follow his message: peace and unity."
James McAvoy will star in the film as Professor X while Oscar Isaac plays Apocalypse. Other cast members include Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Olivia Munn, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Lucas Till, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, and Ben Hardy.
"X-Men: Apocalypse," which is the ninth film in the "X-Men" franchise and the fourth one directed by Singer, will make its way to cinemas on May 27, 2016.
