Okay, I'll answer each of these.
1. For the foreseeable future, yes, I agree.
2. The OT might have cameos. But not starring roles -- you're correct.
3. Agreed. No issues with any of that.
4. This is where you lose me. I can agree as far as the OT cast not being a major part in Apocalypse, if at all. But beyond that, everything is a guess. Nothing more. I don't see how Apocalypse showing up in the 80's negates another appearance in the present/future. He might show up again and it might be against the FC cast exclusively, the OT cast exclusively, or another (however unlikely) time travel adventure. Kitty would still have her powers, I'd imagine.
5. I would like to see Cyclops, Storm, and Jean younger and older. Using your hard logic, though, would there be any real drama in the past if we already know that everything ends happily with the main cast alive and well? I think the audience would like both sets of movies, but IMO the real drama/suspense would be in the future.
6. No, no, and no. We have no idea when the next OT movie could be. 6+ years is a complete guess. It could be the 2018 movie that is slated. But even in 6+ years, I fail to see how any of them, save for Patrick and Ian, are too old. Is there a youth perception that only 20/30 year olds can perform? Even in their 30s/40s/50s, all of the actors should be just fine. Robert Downey, Jr is 49 and still slated to appear as Iron Man through 2019. Even outside of the Iron Man armor, he has stunts -- Is he too unbelievable as a hero because he is pushing 50? Does anyone want to try to convince me that he couldn't kick my ass in real life? My God, Sylvester Stallone is 68, and I wouldn't dare insult his mother. Ben Affleck is just starting his career as Batman, and he's 42. You know WB is probably planning to use him for the next 10+ years. That's my guess, anyway.
Heck, Cyclops's optic blasts, Storm's elemental powers, Jean's telekinesis already make them more effective heroes, plus those actors are still in great shape. Rogue, Colossus, Kitty, Iceman
all still very young. Maybe Kesley Grammer as Beast is pushing it, I'll give you that. So Beast, Xavier, and Magneto would have limited to no stunts, and the action could focus on Cyclops, Storm, Jean, Rogue, Colossus, Kitty, Iceman, and
ugh, Wolverine again. I can live with that. Oh, and the Wolverine age issue would apply to either timeline since it appears Hugh Jackman will be involved no matter what. Is Fox ready to get rid of his ripped physique because he's *gasp* 46?
Ok,let me address each:
#4: I'm not saying that it isn't possible that they could re-use Apocalypse in a future movie 6, 9, 12 or even further down the road. Apocalypse is such a huge reacurring threat in the comics, I definitely could see him being brought back, and in many ways AOA is a perfect story to bring him back. But, AOA is another time travel movie (partially), so it's not being used (IMO) for this movie, nor for the next. But in the future, sure, would acrtually be a good move and could change everything, including the nicey, nicey 2023 future we saw.
But, what I am saying is that unless this Apocalypse movie was turned into a 2 parter (which it doesn't look like it will be) that the next X-Men movie in 3 years will not be, logically, another Apocalypse movie.
So again, I'm not discounting a future (6-36 years from now) Apocalypse movie, just saying the next one won't be Apocalypse, unless this is turned into a 2 parter, which doesn't appear to be the case.
#5: Sometimes it's not the destination, but the trip getting there that is more interesting. Just because we saw that everyone appeared to be happy in 2023 doesn't discount the excitement of what the young X-Men would have to endure. Their trials and tribulations will be worth experiencing, even if we "know" that the big three will make it to 2023. But think about it like this... Did we see Nightcrawler in 2023? How about Polaris, or Psylocke, or Dazzler, etc.? Nope, which means any other characters that they add to the X-Men in future movies, their future is uncertain. So if they do another "trilogy" (they seem to like those for some reason) with a focus on the young Scott, Jean and Storm; they will end up adding new characters along the way. A young Nightcrawler is something I very much want to see. And I've been arguing that they should do a younger brother of Cyclops named Havok (named after their Uncle), and bring in Polaris (Havok's girlfriend), etc. There are many good options which could add to the team.
#6: First, I'm glad you agree with me about McKellan, Stewart and Grammer. To me, an OT X-Men movie without Professor X (or just as a minimised part) would be strange (not including other spin-off teams). But my main point, beyond these couple of actors agining out, is that the likely focus of future X-Men will be this new young cast. Sure, a lot hinges on what happens with Jackman, Lawrence, Fassbender, Hoult and McAvoy; but more than likely at least some will be willing to continue in another "trilogy" (again, they sure seem to like those). Even DoFP, which included the OT cast, was part of the First CLass of character's trilogy. And again, time travel movies are a bit tough since DoFP. It is possible they could do another in the future, but by then it might be best to just continue on with the current, new cast.
You talk about the powers of the big three, but they will be able to use those powers in any movie that uses the young X-Men, so why go back to the OT?
My main point is that many want to see a young Storm, Jean and Scott. You yourself agreed to this. Once we have them, wouldn't we (and Fox) want to continue with them? Especially if they could continue to use some of the current First Class cast ($)? The hope is that as these new, young actors and actresses age so will their characters, in a brand new trilogy (again, they sure seem to like those). And if (and I am speculating) they are doing a trilogy with the young big three, then that is where the stories will focus for the next decade plus.
Also, again, personally I would love to see some of the OT cast used again. In fact, I'm the one promoting the concept of an Excalibur movie or tv series, using the OT cast, which would also include cameos from Charles, Scott and Jean along the way.
But truthfully, for the X-Men movies, I want to see them go with the big three, along with Nightcrawler, start with them young, slow up the time jumps between movies, add new, young characters, and tell many, many great stories between now and when they catch-up to the OT.
And by then these new, young actors and actresses would be of an age where they could play the 2004 Scott, Jean and Ororo; and that is when another time travel story that affects the future (Age of Apocalypse) would be perfect!!!!!
Also, I think most would agree that Fox is looking to expand the universe. But if you expand it in the OT then you will end up (assuming this expanded universe continues for many years, making them more $) losing certain staple characters. Recasting them doesn't make sense when you can use their younger versions just by staying focused in the past. If they stay with this new, young cast, they could have a movie every three years as follows:
2016: X-Men Apocalyse (in 1983)
2019: X-Men ? (in say, 1986)
2022: X-Men ? (in say, 1989)
2025: X-Men ? (in say, 1992)
2028: X-Men ? (in say, 1995)
2031: X-Men ? (in say, 1998)
2034: X-Men ? (in say, 2001)
2037: X-Men, Age of Apocalypse - Part 1 (in say, 2004)
2040: X-Men, Age of Apocalypse - Part 2
2043: X-Men, Age of Apocalypse - Part 3
That would actually be three trilogys, post this Apocalypse movie (and did I mention, they sure seem to love trilogies?).
(actually he's 6'1" so not quite little)
