Final 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Trailer Features Gloom, Doom and a Familiar Face

Well, maybe it's not a familiar face, necessarily, but I could swear I've seen those claws before ...

Yes, although it seemed like Wolverine would be sidelined for Bryan Singer's X-Men: Apocalypse, it now looks like Logan will play a limited role in the Days of Future Past sequel.

The final trailer for the May 27 film arrived yesterday, giving us an expanded look at Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse, his four Horsemen (including Olivia Munn as Psylocke and Alexandra Shipp as Storm) and the young X-Men roster led by Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence).

As is normally the case with Fox's X-Men flicks, you can pretty much take everything you know about the Marvel Universe and chuck it out the window when you sit down to watch the ninth film in this franchise (assuming, of course, that your theater has windows). Still, like First Class and Days of Future Past before it, Apocalypse looks like one hell of a ride. Watch the trailer below.

Marvel Studios' 'Inhumans' Pulls Vanishing Act

Excitement is building among Marvel fans as the release of Captain America: Civil War draws closer, but one shakeup on Disney's release schedule has some members of the Merry Marvel Marching Society playing a depressing tune. TheWrap.com reports that Marvel's Inhumans, which already had its release date shifted from Nov. 2, 2018 to July 12, 2019, has disappeared from the studio's schedule entirely. The disappearance of the film has sparked speculation that the cinematic exploits of Black Bolt, Medusa and the rest of the denizens of Attilan have been put on hold indefinitely, never to emerge from the Terrigen Mists. 

But why? Perhaps the lukewarm ratings of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which has spent two seasons introducing the Inhumans to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has something to do with the change. Maybe the disappearance of this film from the Marvel Studios' schedule is a sign that the struggling ABC series is drawing to a close. Or, equally likely, they just want to place their focus on other films in Phase Three in the MCU. Stay tuned, True Believers.

Ben Affleck to Helm Solo Batman Film

Ben Affleck is a fine director, and his portrayal of the Dark Knight was actually a bright spot in the otherwise dim Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. So, it was good news when Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirmed at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that Affleck would direct a standalone and untitled Batman film based on a script that he wrote. The speculation, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is that the film will either be released on Oct. 5, 2018 or on Nov. 1, 2019. Those are two dates that are listed on DC's release slate that do not yet have films attached to them.

With the Caped Crusader seen violently branding and even killing criminals in Batman v Superman, showing us a Batman who's reached his breaking point, I'm hoping that Affleck shows us an version of Bruce Wayne in this universe that is, dare I say it, more heroic than homicidal. Color me optimistic, because I honestly think Affleck wants to do right by Batman, regardless of how BvS director Zack Snyder chooses to tell his story in this universe.

Batman next hits the big screen in Suicide Squad, in theaters Aug. 5. For my full review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, click here.