Analyzer of Character Ages in X-Men: Apocalypse

The film X-Men: Apocalypse is set in the early 1980s, raising questions about the ages of the characters introduced or highlighted in this film. It's particularly curious how some characters from the original trilogy appear, while others like Rogue, Iceman, Sunspot, Bishop, Blink, and Warpath are missing, despite their young ages. This article delves into these character ages and examines the continuity issues in the X-Men film series.

Ages in X-Men: Apocalypse

In X-Men, the main protagonists Rogue and Iceman are teenagers, around fifteen or sixteen years old when the film is set. This means that they would have been born in 1989 at the latest if we disregard the "not-too-distant future." However, if the film is considered to be in the year 2000, their earliest birth years would be 1984, which perfectly aligns with the timeline of X-Men: Apocalypse.

Where are Rogue, Iceman, Sunspot, Bishop, Blink, and Warpath?

These characters are not present in X-Men: Apocalypse, likely due to their age. In Days of Future Past, these characters are introduced in the future, specifically in 2023, fifty years after 1973. At this juncture, Sunspot, Bishop, Blink, and Warpath are young, in their early twenties or possibly mid-twenties. Bishop, on the other hand, appears slightly older and seems to be the leader of this group. This would place his birth year around the early 1990s, a decade after X-Men: Apocalypse.

Angela and Jean Grey (Jubilee)

Characters like Angela (Angel) and Jean Grey (Jubilee) present another challenge to the film’s continuity. Angela, who first appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand, is portrayed as being in her early twenties, substantially older than Rogue and Iceman. Similarly, Jubilee, who first appeared in X-Men (2000), is a student and contemporary of Rogue, Iceman, and Kitty. She should be around the same age as them.

Continuity Issues and Creative Choices

The absence of certain K/runtime characters and the inclusion of others that feel out of place are indicative of Fox's lack of stringent continuity enforcement. Even though Days of Future Past altered the timeline, suggesting that the future is different from the original series, characters like Jubilee were given new placements within the 1980s continuity, despite her having been born in the 1980s. This decision was likely driven by the desire to include contemporary characters that appealed to audiences of the time.

Bryan Singer and Character Choices

Bryan Singer, who directed the 2000 X-Men film, couldn't resist placing characters like Jubilee in the 1980s, despite potential continuity issues. The 1980s fashion sense and younger appearance of Jubilee in the original film were too good to pass up, even as it disregarded the established timelines of the older films.

Conclusion

The character ages in X-Men: Apocalypse raise questions about the series' overall continuity. While the film's setting of the early 1980s is a deliberate choice, the inclusion of certain characters based on their age misaligns with the established timelines. Understanding these issues offers a deeper insight into both the film and the broader X-Men universe.