Friday’s dropping of the new X-Men: Apocalypse sent the internet into a mutant-fueled tizzy, grasping at all the little nuggets of goodness spotted throughout the two-and-a-half-minute opus, which saw young versions of heroes like Jean Grey, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Storm, and Jubilee as well as returning members like Charles Xavier, Magneto, and Havok. Oh, and there was that evil ancient mutant god whose name is in the title. You remember him, surely.

Well, as people took to the internet with their lists of Easter eggs, the film’s director, Bryan Singer, was telling Empire Magazine all about it, blow for blow. It’s a hefty piece with lots and lots of information, but here are some of our favorites:

– In the trailer, James McAvoy‘s Xavier comforts Sophie Turner‘s Jean Grey about a nightmare/vision she had, telling her it was just a dream, but Singer confides that the take he used in the finished film is much less soothing. “In the movie it’s an intense moment, a psychic moment happens between them and the take is a much more suspicious take.” Could Xavier be afraid of the kind of power inside Jean?

– Oscar Isaac‘s Apocalypse mentions being called “Ra, Krishna, Yahweh” with regard to him being a super old possible deity of some kind. Singer responds to the God complex question by asking “What is a god?” Adding, “Why would someone create and rule over a race simply to be worshipped? It bears no respect or devotion to him – that’s the big giant ego of the old God. All of it lacks symmetry, order, and devotion to him. It needs to be culled. It needs to be wiped away and rebuilt again.”

– Though he was a big part of X-Men: First Class, Alex Summers, aka Havok (Lucas Till), was only around for a cameo in Days of Future Past. So where was he after Vietnam? “Alex has been out in the world,” explains Singer. “He decides to go with Alex to see Moira, so Hank can run the school while he’s gone.” The event that’s brought Alex back into Charles’ world? He’s just arrived at Xavier’s school with his younger brother, Scott. “Who’s completely blind, he can’t even see.”

– We know that Erik Lensherr, aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender), is one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, by why would someone who was a leader himself be so easily led? “He’s found Erik at the most vulnerable place in his life,” explains Singer. “He’s searching for God. Remember, he was a young Jew in a concentration camp when he first lost his family and now here comes this man who was, is, or claims to be God. The power of persuasion is Apocalypse’s greatest power.”

There are many, many more tidbits from Singer in the full Empire piece, which we suggest you check out. Which revelation about X-Men: Apocalypse has been your favorite? What theories do you have that aren’t addressed here? Let us know in the comments below! And if you missed it, you can see Nerdist News break down the trailer right here:

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HT: Empire Online
Image: 20th Century Fox