"X-Men: Apocalypse" was still a financial hit, and it received positive reviews, but it was not as praised or successful as its predecessor, "X-Men: Days of Future Past." It also pales in comparison to the success of films like "Deadpool." Because of this, Twentieth Century Fox is reportedly rebooting the franchise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the financial drop that "X-Men: Apocalypse" experienced is amplified by the fact the contracts for Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Nicholas Hoult have expired. The actors have yet to reveal if they will re-sign their contracts. Even if they do, it is speculated they will demand a much higher salary.
The report also states that the franchise is facing problems because of the departure of director Tim Miller from "Deadpool 2" and the difficulty they have experienced to get the "Gambit" movie off the ground.
It is also stated that Bryan Singer is not involved with the future films of the franchise. Instead, series producer and writer Simon Kinberg will be taking over for the next film, which is stated to be a soft reboot. According to the report, the film is being written with McAvoy, Lawrence, Hoult, and Fassbender in mind, although it is possible that they will not be a part of the movie.
The plot is reportedly going to focus on the "Dark Phoenix" story. This plot line was adapted in the 2006 film "X-Men: The Last Stand," but the movie was poorly received by viewers and critics. It was also teased at the end of "X-Men: Apocalypse" when Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) used her hidden Phoenix powers to defeat the enemy.
No official release date has been released for the next "X-Men" film, which will be the seventh film in the main franchise. Given how it is still in development, it is expected to premiere in 2019 at the earliest.
