Trailer Dossier: "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (Bryan Singer, 2014)

CLUES TO “FUTURE PAST”: THE LATEST “X-MEN” TRAILER
HINTS AT THINGS TO COME by Bennett Campbell Ferguson

Left: Nicholas Hoult and Hugh Jackman on the "X-Men" set

In Bryan Singer’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (which is set for May 23^RD 2014), mutant leaders Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Erik Lensherr (Ian McKellen) find their race of super-powered beings on the verge of extinction.  So, hoping to stave off the inevitable, they concoct a mad plan: send the legendary warrior Logan (Hugh Jackman) back in time so he can change history and save mutant-kind. 

And that’s about all we know.  It’s not much.  But the film’s first trailer (which hit the web this week) offers some intriguing hints about what will befall Marvel’s merry mutants next May….

Love Triangles

One of the perks of “Days of Future Past” is that it marks the return of three of the franchise’s best characters—Rogue (Anna Paquin), Bobby Drake (Shawn Ashmore), and Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page).  But there might be some complications.  In “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006), Bobby has betrayed his romantic relationship with Rogue by shamelessly flirting with Kitty, and the “Days of” trailer hints that the conflict will continue.  Early in the trailer, we see a shot of Bobby and Kitty exchanging worried looks, followed by a close-up of an equally troubled-looking Rogue.  The kicker?  That we see a shot of Bobby and Kitty together, followed by a glimpse of Rogue alone.

            This twist raises some questions.  Parts of “Days of Future Past” take place ten years after “The Last Stand,” and clearly much has transpired in that time.  In fact, Mr. Singer has stated that Bobby and Kitty a couple in the new film but if that’s true, when and how did Bobby and Rogue split up?  And perhaps more to the point, what is the nature of Bobby and Kitty’s relationship?  Is it true love?  Or will the new film see Rogue and Bobby’s love deepen once more? 

Tears for Mystique

While “Days of Future Past” features a massive ensemble, a couple characters receive particularly close attention in the trailer.  Chief among them is Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), the blue-skinned shape-shifter whose storyline is part of the “past” segment of the film.  When we last saw Mystique (in 2011’s “X-Men: First Class”), she had committed her loyalties to Erik Lensherr (played as a young man by Michael Fassbender) and his anti-human crusade.  She seemed confident in her choice, and it was even hinted that she and Erik might become partners in more ways than one.

            But the “Days of” trailer hurls all of that into question.  In a particularly potent segment, we hear the older Erik saying that his younger self was once, “On a different path.  A darker path.”  Then, we get a quick shot of a tear rolling down Mystique’s cheek.  Whatever that “darker path” involves, clearly she’s not happy with it. 

There are a lot of things this could mean.  In “First Class,” Mystique’s beliefs were never as extreme as Erik’s; she came late to his quest for mutant supremacy.  But whatever happens, “X-Men” history dictates that Mystique will ultimately side with Erik and his ruthless followers.  The only real question is how that journey will play out.

Dark Stories, Dark Places

It’s no secret that “X-Men: Days of Future Past” will be a grimmer film than its predecessors.  In fact, when I had a chance to ask Mr. Singer some questions (via Twitter) about the film’s tone, he stated unequivocally that the movie will be “darker than the previous films, particularly because of the stakes.”  That’s not surprising, considering that the plot revolves around the worldwide extermination of mutants and how Logan, Charles, Erik, and their allies become fugitives in a world where mutants are rapidly being decimated.

            From the trailer, the darkness of the story looks all conquering.  The dialogue is solemn and joke-free (“Please; we need you to hope again,” Charles implores his younger self); the scenes are shadowy and dense with detail; and even the brighter environments (like a government building) look coolly monochromatic.  All of this is a relief because Mr. Singer has proven that his greatest gift is an ability to tell brutal tales of heroes desperately fighting to ward off an imminent apocalypse.

            Key to the patented “Singer darkness” is the inclusion of a horrifically watery fight scene in many of his films.  Examples include the attempted beating and suffocating of Superman in “Superman Returns” and the death of a woman in a water tank in “X2.”  Sure enough, it looks like a water fight is on the docket for “Days of Future Past”—the trailer shows an enraged Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) attempting to drown the younger Erik in a massive pool.  Which begs the question—will the Hank/Erik showdown be the movie’s disturbingly show-stopping centerpiece?  And if not, will Mr. Singer give Christopher Nolan a run for his money by staging a different but equally gruesome fight scene? 

            Whatever happens, the trailer suggests that “Days of Future Past” will a franchise return to form.  Gone are the bright colors and bland sets that have haunted recent installments like “First Class” and “The Wolverine”; instead, we get a full dose of Mr. Singer’s visual poetry.  From a silhouette of Charles reading Logan’s mind to an epic shot of Erik rising through the air, the trailer’s images are thoroughly beautiful. 

            In short: see you in line.