Rose Byrne Returning as Moria MacTaggert in X-Men Apocalypse
Weve known for a while that Bryan Singers X-Men: Apocalypse will focus more on the young cast, and Patrick Stewart recently confirmed that neither he nor Ian McKellen will be returning for the upcoming installment in the franchise. While we wont see those old, familiar faces,
Singer is bringing back another X-Men star for the sequel: Rose Byrne will return to reprise her role as Moira MacTaggert from X-Men: First Class.
EW reports that Byrne has joined the cast of X-Men: Apocalypse, reprising her role as CIA agent Moira MacTaggert, who also serves as a love interest for James McAvoys Professor Xavier. Just last week, it was confirmed that the sequel has found its young Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Storm, casting
Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner,
Joe star Tye Sheridan, and
Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B star Alexandra Shipp as the younger versions of the beloved mutant heroes.
Moria was more of a supporting player in First Class, but screenwriter and producer Simon Kinberg told EW that shes a significant character in Apocalypse, though he wouldnt elaborate further. The sequel takes place in the 80s, about 20 years after the events of First Class, in which Professor Xavier wiped Moiras memory, so she has no recollection of her time spent with the younger X-Men.
Kinberg went on to explain that Apocalypse will provide a sense of closure for the main characters from First Class:
This movie is the completion of the first arcs of Charles, Eric, Raven, and Hank, who are essentially our main characters. Theyre such young actors and young characters, so theres a lot more story to tell. But as a first phase of their lives, there is this feeling of closure by the end of the movie.
That seems to leave things open as to whether well see McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult return for future films. Kinberg went on to express his excitement for exploring the 80s aesthetic, and when asked if that means we might finally see disco mutant Dazzler on the big screen, the writer suggested it could happen.
X-Men: Apocalypse features the young cast going up against their most epic and dangerous foe yet, Apocalypse, played by Oscar Isaac.
The film is set to hit theaters on May 27, 2016.
