X-Men: Days of Future Past is still four months away, which means it's already old news.  Time to move on to the shiny, new thing in the distance: X-Men: Apocalypse.  A couple months ago, director Bryan Singer announced the sequel featuring the eponymous foe, and earlier this month said that the picture would address mutant origins and how "we think about our Gods and our history and miracles and powers."  In the latest issue of Empire Magazine, Singer expanded on his thoughts for Apocalypse, and along with screenwriter Simon Kinberg, explains how it will relate to Days of Future Past.

Hit the jump for more.  For more X-Men news, click here for new details on X-Men: Days of Future Past and click here for new details on a Gambit movie .

Speaking to Empire, Singer explained how the notion of mutant origins would factor into the story:

"One thing that interests me is the notion of ancient mutants," Singer says. "What would people thousands of years ago, without the benefit of science, think mutants were? And more importantly, what would mutants thousands of years ago think they were? Gods? Titans? Angels? Demons? And if such mutants did exist thousands of years ago, what became of them? Did one survive?"

For those who don't know the comics, Apocalypse is the "ancient mutant" in question.  He came out of the Jordanian city of Aqaba 5000 years ago, and his original name was "En Sabah Nur".  He then went around the world getting civilizations to worship him as a god because he has lots and lots of powers.

Additionally, Singer says that X-Men: Apocalypse will be "more of a First Class sequel" and "It'll take place some time after this movie. What happens in this movie brings about what'll happen in that movie."  Kinberg added:

"We like the stakes of it, and it feels like a story that could impact a lot of our favorite characters in big, dramatic ways. We feel it's a very different story from Days of Future Past. For starters, it's a very different villain, and the characters will be in very different places emotionally."

Finally, Singer dispelled a rumor that the stinger in Days of Future Past has Magneto being possessed by an alien, which causes him to become Apocalypse.  "That's not the case, and nor will that particular thing be in the film," said Singer. "People were concerned we were making Apocalypse an alien. It's odd. I don't know where that came from."