Let’s face it, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is like the Super Bowl of cinematic releases. Opening across the world in what will apparently be the widest release ever, on December 18th, 2015, everybody wants the chance to have their advertising hitched to that wagon. While it is inevitable that Disney projects will get priority placement – Captain America: Civil War included – it will be interesting to see which upcoming films from other studios are successful in snagging a prime-time spot. This week, another one has been confirmed, and that is X-Men: Apocalypse.
The action in the film takes place a decade after the events of X-Men: Days Of Future Past, and sees Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) take on the ancient mutant Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) and his Four Horsemen – Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Angel (Ben Hardy), Psylocke (Olivia Munn) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp). It is a highly anticipated entry into the X-Men franchise, and writer-producer Simon Kinberg explained to Collider the significance of this trailer release.
“I can, in fact, confirm that information. Our first trailer will be on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s our first thing out there, so it is somewhat of a teaser, but it’s certainly longer than a minute, and it has a ton of cool stuff in it.”
While X-Men: Apocalypse hails from 20th Century Fox, it is perhaps unsurprising that the first official trailer would be delivered along with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Both films star Oscar Isaac, the X-Men are Marvel characters (and Marvel is owned by Disney), and X-Men: Apocalypse writer-producer Simon Kinberg is, himself, creatively involved in an as-yet untitled Star Wars Anthology movie.
It’s all very cosy, but not as cosy as it’s going to be for the audiences in those theatres – already hyped up for a brand new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, seeing the Captain America: Civil War trailer on the big screen, and getting a first look at X-Men: Apocalypse. If only Christmas would come early this year.