Implications of Nate Grey in Xmen: Apocalypse

The new promotional footage released for the film is giving fans more than they bargained for, with new mutants, and potential for more mainstream 'X-Men' films in the future. X-Men: New Mutants is slated for a 2018 release, but there may be a more mainstream 'X-Men' feature already in production; based on the new team of 'X-Men' being introduced in X-Men: Apocalypse.

From the onset of production on X-Men: Apocalypse, fans have been curious as to how many, and which mutants would be making an appearance in the new film. As of now, we can confirm that a vast number of mutants we haven't seen before will be making their first on-screen appearance. In the newest trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse, there are several screenshots depicting the new mutants in the film. We get a brief glimpse of Caliban (Tomas LeMarquis), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Jubilee (Lana Condor), Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), and the most notable addition of Nate Grey by an unidentified actor.

Significant appearance of Nate Grey in the trailers for the film.

For fans who aren't familiar with who Nate Grey is, he has a comic-book history with ties to some of the more well-known mutants featured in X-Men: Apocalypse. In Marvel Comics, Nate Grey is the genetically manufactured son of Scott Summers/Cyclops and Jean Grey. Nate shares no familial connections to Scott Summers nor Jean Grey, as he was simply created from their genetic material as the 'perfect' mutant by Mister Sinister. Nate Grey's future in Marvel Comics has him using the moniker of 'X-Man'. Despite being engineered by the villainous, Mister Sinister, Nate Grey decided on becoming a hero under the tutelage of other X-Men' like Forge and Cyclops. Other than that, Nate Grey really hasn't had a highly developed arc within the "X-Men" sub-genre of Marvel Comics. But the ramifications of Nate Grey existing in the current, cinematic X-Men universe are quite lasting; as well as revealing of the next chapter in the "X-Men" franchise.

Ties between Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Mister Sinister, and how Nate Grey is a product of their joint efforts.

To step back, Nate Grey's cameo in the trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse depicts Nate's character as a student at the Xavier Institute for mutants. But as to how Nate Grey came to be at the Xavier Institute is a mystery. We know that both Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) will be featured in the new film as younger versions of themselves. Implying that they haven't yet gone up against the villainous, Mister Sinister. For Nate Grey to exist within the current, X-Men universe, there would have to be some connection between the currently known, Jean Grey and Scott Summers to that of Mister Sinister. It's plausible that Jean Grey and Scott Summers have been captured by Mister Sinister either in the past, or during the events portrayed in X-Men: Apocalypse. Meaning that Mister Sinister is set to make an appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse or the character of Mister Sinister is being cleverly set up for the next chapter in the 'X-Men' franchise; the cameo of Nate Grey being the basis for Mister Sinister's character having a place in the current 'X-Men' universe.

Is Mister Sinister set up for the next 'X-Men' film or will he have a role in "X-Men: Apocalypse".

With the likelihood of Mister Sinister having a pivotal role in both X-Men: Apocalypse and the next chapter of the 'X-Men' franchise, it draws up the question of "how" involved the character of Mister Sinister will be in the 'X-Men' universe. It's possible that Mister Sinister may only get a shout-out during the Nate Grey cameo, or he could be fully exposed to the audience as a hidden reveal in X-Men: Apocalypse. There's lots of potential to explore in his character but the more important aspect to consider when thinking of Mister Sinister, is how his actions are going to affect the "X-Men". Nate Grey's cameo in the trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse is creating some lasting ties between the new team of 'X-Men' and the potential villains they'll be set to face later on. We can also assume that Mister Sinister may be the main antagonist of the next chapter in the 'X-Men' franchise. The newest image from X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) is of the 'X-Men' team fully assembled and ready to take on lessons in the Danger Room, which could be the starting off point for where the X-Men will learn of Mister Sinister's diabolical plans.

The possibility of Mister Sinister showing up in either X-Men: Apocalypse or the next film slated for the mainstream 'X-Men' universe is very good. Apart from the inclusion of Nate Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse, and the team of 'X-Men' suited up for their next adventure at the conclusion of the film, it all but sets up Mister Sinister to become the main antagonist of the next film. There's also the possibility of the Nate Grey cameo seen in the trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse having no further repercussions on the 'X-Men' universe.

Unlikely scenario for the Nate Grey cameo.

In the worst case scenario, the scene wherein we can see Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) and Peter Maximoff (Evan Peters), accompanied by Nate Grey (unidentified) could wind up with the young mutants standing beside them as casualties. From the look on Hank and Peter's face, it appears that they may be looking on at Apocalypse/En Sabah Nur reigning down some terror on the Xavier Institute. We can also determine that Apocalypse will make his presence known in the film, as he's been seen at the Xavier Institute in several of the promotional images for the film. Which could mean that Apocalypse's arrival to the 'X-Mansion'/ Xavier Institute for Mutants, will bring forth some destruction on the younger group of mutants standing beside Hank McCoy and Peter Maximoff. Possibly wiping Nate Grey out of existence in the 'X-Men' universe, eliminating any potential connectivity between Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Mister Sinister, and the future Nate Grey. But that's highly unlikely with a cameo like Nate Grey's.

How will William Stryker play into "X-Men: Apocalypse"?

It's also possible that Josh Helman's character of William Stryker will be the one reigning down terror on the Xavier Institute for Mutants. Helman first portrayed a young version of William Strkyer in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2015). From the recently released trailer for the film, we get a brief screenshot of William Stryker (Josh Helman) arriving at the 'Xavier Institute' during the same scene wherein Nate Grey's cameo is set to happen. Is the scene depicted, an adaptation of the comic-book event that saw General William Stryker capturing the young mutants of the Xavier Institute? With the possibility being credited by William Strker arriving by helicopter at the Xavier Institute, we could see the events of X-2: X-Men United retold. Which also means that Logan/Wolverine's origin story could be fleshed out in X-Men: Apocalypse. Along with the tease of Wolverine's claw, the film is setting up a rewrite for the poorly-critiqued 'X-Men' films of the past. If X-2: X-Men United is indeed getting a rewrite in the continuity of the 'X-Men' franchise, then the tease of Wolverine's claw is likely to be a retelling of the rescue from X-2: X-Men United (2002) wherein Wolverine leads the charge on the Alkali facility to rescue the young mutants from William Stryker, and his Weapon-X experiments.

Significance of Nate Grey cameo in the film.

There's more plausibility in the belief that the Nate Grey' cameo was placed specifically for his role in future 'X-Men' films, rather than just a random Easter egg. As well as the new team of 'X-Men' appearing to be suited up at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse, it more than gives credit to the theory of Nate Grey becoming a part of the 'X-Men' universe. At the same time, providing a potential jumping off point for the new team of X-Men, accompanied by Nate Grey and Jubilee to star in the next chapter in the 'X-Men' franchise; which has yet to be confirmed or announced. But given the newest release of images from X-Men: Apocalypse, it's safe to say that the next chapter in the mainstream 'X-Men' universe is going to feature the team of 'X-Men' highlighted in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016); as well as plausibly setting up Mister Sinister as the main antagonist.