X-Men: Apocalypse aims to deliver the biggest mutant movie yet with the largest number of characters ever seen in an X-Men movie, bringing back the surviving characters of X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past (Hugh Jackman's Wolverine included!). And despite introducing a whole new roster of younger X-Men alongside additional supporting mutant characters, there's another bonus one coming too... after the credits, that is.

Yes, X-Men: Apocalypse does have a post-credits scene. It's not a surprise, and news of this slipped out last week, but the bonus button tag at the end of the film wasn't featured in early press screenings over the weekend and on Monday so critics and the media have yet to see it.

Those critics however, were allowed to share their thoughts early and so far the reaction is mixed. Having seen it myself, Apocalypse is better than the first review scores indicate, especially as a long-time fans of the comics and movies, but stay tuned for Screen Rant's official written review and podcast for more when it opens in wide release.

As for the post-credits scene, it'll introduce a new character "in name" according to writer-producer Simon Kinberg who told Collider the following during the junket this weekend (that we sadly, were not allowed to participate in):

“It’s a nod toward potentially a lot of different movies. I mean certainly the Wolverine movie is related to what happens at the end of it, but there’s also another character that’s introduced, at least in name, in the tag and he could show up in any host of different X-Men films. Maybe a Gambit movie, maybe another X-Men movie.”

Whoever this character is, it must be a biggie since Kinberg says "he" is possibly appearing in multiple "films" similar to what we expect of the time-travelling mutant soldier Cable who was namedropped in the Deadpool post-credits scene. Is it a hero or villain?

Mr. Sinister and Appocalypse - Pierre Loyvet Art
Mr. Sinister and Appocalypse art by Pierre Loyvet

Could it be Channing Tatum's Gambit? The long-awaited introduction of Mr. Sinister?

What we do know is that Gambit shoots this fall, and next year, New Mutants enters production for a 2018 release. We also know the next main X-Men movie is set in the '90s so it's unclear at the moment in what order they'll all release and how/if they'll connect, especially if X-Men: Apocalypse's post-credits scene is setting up a Gambit character. Who do you think it'll be?

More: 10 Things You Need To Know About The New X-Men Timeline

Directed by Bryan Singer, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is produced by Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker and Lauren Shuler Donner, and stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor and Ben Hardy.

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

X-Men: Apocalypse will open in U.S. theaters on May 27, 2016, followed by Wolverine 3 on March 3, 2017, and unannounced X-Men films on October 6, 2017 (possibly Gambit), January 12, 2018 (possibly Deadpool 2), and July 13, 2018 (possibly The New Mutants).

Source: Collider