X-Men: Apocalypse. The Summers' Family Lineage. Massive Repercussions on X-Men Universe

Where will the X-Men go in their next cinematic feature?

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) just had its domestic release a bit over two weeks ago, fans are currently dissecting every Easter Egg and minute detail in the film. Some are even going as far as to criticize the film for not living up to expectations set early on. And some of the accusations may be accurate, but overall, the film did great by introducing a band of X-Men like we've never seen before. There was so much originality in the film. As well as setting up an entire universe of characters that have yet to be seen. In regards to characters from the X-Men universe who haven't been introduced yet, some of the Easter Eggs dropped in X-Men: Apocalypse are directly foreshadowing upcoming films in the Fox owned, X-Men franchise.

Bryan Singer might not be proceeding with the universe of X-Men he's built with X-Men: Apocalypse.

Director Bryan Singer may be staying quiet on the matter for now, but there's going to be some level of connectivity between X-Men: Apocalypse and the next installment in the X-Men franchise. Recently, Bryan Singer was quoted saying he's taking a break from X-Men films. In a report by ComicbookMovie.com, the report indicates the details of Bryan Singer's statement. By which it clearly states Bryan Singer's intent to step away from X-Men films, for the time being. The report also indicates Singer's intent to return if another director steps up to direct a new installment in the X-Men franchise, he just won't be the one to helm the project. That being said, it appears Bryan Singer's plans to expand upon X-Men: Apocalypse in future films are on hold for the moment. But another director could easily step in to helm another installment in the mainstream X-Men cinematic universe.

Despite Singer's departure, the next installment in the X-Men franchise could still happen.

In that scenario, the set-ups for future X-men films presented during X-Men: Apocalypse could still be utilized in upcoming years, including the long lineage of X-Men characters connected to the Summers family. Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan) was just introduced in X-Men: Apocalypse, along with a cameo from the unnamed Nathaniel Grey a.k.a. X-Man. Apart from these two mutants of the Summers' family being introduced in X-Men: Apocalypse, another member of the Summers family who was present in the film went overlooked. And the backstory to that individual is far-reaching into the X-Men universe.

The Summers family lineage explored in X-Men: Apocalypse.

During the beginning scenes of X-Men: Apocalypse, we're introduced to Scott Summers while he's at school. It just so happens to be the day that Scott's mutant powers begin to manifest themselves. After an explosion of mutant powers by Scott Summers, the scene cuts to several other simultaneous events happening during the film. When we return to Scott Summers, we can see that Alex Summers is in the Summers' family home, talking to two unidentified individuals. The fact is implied that these two individuals are Scott and Alex's parents, from the manner they're speaking to Alex. But the scene depicting the conversation between Alex's parents and Alex begins mid-way through the conversation, and their identities are never clearly pointed out. However, the IMDB cast page for X-Men: Apocalypse has the role of Mr. Summers played by Ryan Hollyman. But Mr. Summers can be anyone in the X-Men universe, seeing is how multiple staples of the X-Men have gone by the surname of Summers.

However, during the aforementioned scene of meeting the Summers family, there's no direct introduction to either of these characters in the film as the mother and father of the Summers' family, despite the comic-book history of Christopher and Katherine Summers, the parents to Scott and Alex Summers having pivotal roles in the X-Men universe. We can clearly see that Mr. Summers (Ryan Hollyman) and Mrs. Summers (Joanne Boland) are well into old age in X-Men: Apocalypse, and it doesn't look like they've fulfilled the predetermined paths created by their comic-book counterparts.

Within the scene, it's clear that Mr. Summers isn't Christopher Summers, father to Alex and Scott Summers. Mr. Summers, played by Ryan Hollyman is probably a relative to Alex and Scott Summers or most likely, their grandfather. Seeing is how in Marvel Comics, Christopher Summers is in about his 30's when he and his wife have Scott and Alex Summers. And Mr. Summers of X-Men: Apocalypse is quite too old to fit into the role of Christopher Summers. Along with Mr. Summers (Ryan Hollyman) being debunked as the potential Christopher Summers a.k.a. Corsair, we can also disprove Joanne Boland being Katherine Summers, mother to Alex and Scott Summers. Katherine's comic-book history has her character dying early on. She only gets to see Scott and Alex as they are between three to six years old, when their ejection from a crashing plane is the only thing that saves them. Soon after Scott and Alex are rescued from their landing, Katherine Summers is murdered by Emperor D'Ken; we'll get back to that later. Along with Katherine Summers' comic-book history eliminating her from being present during X-Men: Apocalypse, that places Joanne Boland in the role of Mrs. Summers, the grandmother to Scott and Alex Summers. But that drives the question of where are Scott and Alex's parents, the Christopher and Katherine Summers?

Where Christopher and Katherine Summers may appear in the cinematic X-Men universe.

Christopher and Katherine Summers haven't been seen in the cinematic X-Men universe yet, but the seeds to their arrival may have been planted with the inclusion of Mr. and Mrs. Summers in X-Men: Apocalypse. As I mentioned before, there's never any direct affirmation of the Mr. and Mrs. Summers being that of Christopher and Katherine Summers in the film. That fact is only implied, but that doesn't mean we won't see Katherine and Christopher Summers in a future film. It actually means the contrary. Seeing is how both Christopher and Katherine Summers were left out of X-Men: Apocalypse, their stories may be rounded out in another X-Men film, in the eventuality of the X-Men flying into space. The history of Katherine and Christopher Summers has them captured by Emperor D'Ken when their plane crashes, the resulting crash left Scott and Alex Summers abandoned.

History of the Summers family in Marvel Comics.

In Marvel Comics, the Summers are forced to eject Alex and Scott from their plane when they are shot out of the sky by an unidentified aircraft. Alex and Scott manage to land safely, but the same can't be said of Katherine and Christopher Summers. The two don't die in the crash, they're saved by a vessel of the Shi'Ar Empire, controlled by Emperor D'Ken. The explanation is never given as to why D'Ken is on Earth capturing humans, but it may have been a simple plot device used to intersect his world with that of the Summers family. Apart from why, Emperor D'Ken succeeds in bringing the pregnant Katherine Summers and Christopher Summers aboard his ship as prisoners. While there, Katherine is kept as part of the concubines to be used by Emperor D'Ken. And Christopher Summers is kept chained up like a slave. Christopher eventually escapes, only to find his wife before she's murdered in front of him by Emperor D'Ken. D'Ken ripped the unborn fetus within Katherine Summers, ending her life in the process. It was then that D'Ken sent Christopher Summers off onto another ship to be sold into slavery in space. But that wouldn't be the last of Christopher Summers.

After Christopher Summers is sold into slavery, he manages to escape by facilitating a Starjammer. He then decided to go by the moniker of Corsair, and became a space pirate of sorts. Eventually Corsair a.k.a. Christopher Summers would be reunited with his sons, Alex and Scott Summers. Although, it hasn't been the happiest of family reunions in recent history. Despite all of that, Christopher Summers' comic-book history foretells his future in the cinematic X-Men universe.

Why Corsair was purposely kept out of X-Men: Apocalypse.

As it stands, in the current X-Men universe, Mr. Summers played by Ryan Hollyman wasn't portraying Christopher Summers in X-Men: Apocalypse. And while that aspect of the film is never cleared up, it's obvious that the illusion behind Mr. Summers is to keep the character of Christopher Summers a.k.a. Corsair on the sidelines until his presence is required in a future film. Corsair could already be set up in the next installment of the X-Men franchise; in the scenario that the X-Men do go into space the next time around. The X-Men may also have a reason to go into space if Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) can't control the Phoenix Force.

The Phoenix Force could also play a part in the next X-Men adventure.

The Phoenix Force was teased during X-Men: Apocalypse as Jean Grey exhibited the first signs of her Phoenix persona developing. The ending segment of the battle with Apocalypse had Jean Grey unleashing all of her power, and the Phoenix Force just so happened to be the source behind her telekinetic abilities. That's reason enough for the X-Men to venture into space. Jean Grey has unleashed a cosmic power on Earth, and she may be even more of a danger than Apocalypse was. There's also the potential for the Shi'Ar Empire, the originators of the Phoenix Force, to appear on Earth. Wherein Lilandra could be seeking the help of Charles Xavier, and finds the Phoenix lying in wait by his side.

Marvel Comics connection between the Shi'Ar Empire and the cosmic side of the universe.

In Marvel Comics, Lilandra is the Emperess to be in the Shi'Ar Empire. She lost the fight for the throne with her brother, D'Ken. D'Ken became Emperor and enacted some insidious plans on the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe during his reign as Emperor D'Ken of the Shi'Ar Empire. It wasn't until Lilandra reached out to Charles Xavier that the X-Men became informed of the cosmic side of the universe, and were capable of assisting Lilandra in overthrowing her brother, D'Ken.

The resulting adventure into space would probably lead to the X-Men encountering Corsair and the Starjammers. It would be there that Scott Summers would be reunited with his father, although that is yet to be seen. Corsair may find his son to be of a revolting nature or he could embrace him fully. Their interactions together will be intriguing as there may be a contentious relationship between the two of them.

More members of the Summers family have potential to appear in the cinematic X-Men universe.

Knowing how Christopher Summmers a.k.a. Corsair may cross paths with the X-Men in the scenario that the X-Men venture into space, Scott Summers' introduction in X-Men: Apocalypse could mean more to the X-Men universe than a single feature presence. If Corsair does exist somewhere else in the X-Men universe, the next installment in the X-Men franchise could see the X-Men going into the space, running into Corsair, helping Lilandra overthrow D'Ken, and resolving the Phoenix arc. All of that is speculative for the moment. But the progression of the X-Men franchise since X-Men: First Class has been leading up to a growing universe of X-Men titles including a cosmic adventure, which hasn't happened yet. The popularity of the Summers family in the X-Men universe also plays a factor in why Corsair will likely be an integral character in a future X-Men film. To back that up, we also have Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable making his first appearance in the upcoming Deadpool 2. Then there's the cameo of Nate Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse. As well as the Essex Corporation teased in the post-credits scene of X-Men: Apocalypse all but saying Nathaniel Essex a.k.a. Mister Sinister will play a part in the cinematic X-Men universe; Mister Sinister has a deep obsession with the Summers family in Marvel Comics. He goes as far as to create clones based from the DNA of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, while never telling them of their blood lineage. Seeing is how multiple members of the Summers family have pivotal roles in the current cinematic universe, it's reason enough to believe that Christopher Summers a.k.a. Corsair will be the next member of the Summers family to appear alongside Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan) in a future X-Men film.

The likely direction of the next installment in the X-Men franchise.

Accounting for Bryan Singer's recent statements, indicating his break from the X-Men franchise, the current momentum of the X-Men as a cinematic presence may call for another director to step up immediately, to take on another installment in the X-Men franchise. In that scenario, the next installment would probably see the newly formed team of X-Men seen at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse taking on an adventure into space. The lead in to space would likely be a result of Jean Grey being unable to control the Phoenix Force, along with Lilandra calling upon Charles Xavier for his help. Or on a stretch of a plot-thread, Corsair himself could crash land on Earth, attempting to escape from the Shi'Ar Empire. If Emperor D'Ken still has it out for Corsair, he could easily follow Corsair to Earth. And there, the X-Men would probably be called upon to answer the on-coming threat. Also theoretical for the moment.

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