"X-Men" film series screenwriter and producer Simon Kinberg confirmed through an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Australian actress Rose Byrne will join the cast of the upcoming "X-Men: Apocalypse."
In the latest installment of the "X-Men" franchise, Byrne will reprise her role as CIA agent Moira MacTaggert from the 2011 film "X-Men: First Class."
According to Kinberg, who is writing the script for "Apocalypse," the upcoming film will take place 20 years after "First Class." Although Byrne will be joining her co-stars from the 2011 film such as James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, her character will have no memory of them. This is because at the end of "First Class," McAvoy's Charles Xavier character used his powers to erase the recent memories of MacTaggert in order to protect his mutant academy.
"She's a significant character in the movie," Kinberg told Entertainment Weekly. "We ended 'First Class' with Charles having wiped portions of her memory of her experience with the X-Men."
"They are, essentially, strangers to her when she meets them," he added.
Kinberg noted that despite not remembering Xavier, MacTaggert's relationship with Professor X will be explored at a much deeper level in "Apocalypse."
Although Kinberg didn't go into detail regarding the general storyline of the upcoming film, he said during the interview that "Apocalypse" will further develop the story arcs of some of the series' major characters.
"This movie is the completion of the first arcs of Charles, Eric [Lensherr], Raven [Darkholme] and Hank [McCoy]," he said. "They're such young actors and young characters, so there's a lot of more story to tell. But as a first phase of their lives, there is this feeling of closure by the end of the movie."
"X-Men: Apocalypse" is scheduled to hit theaters on May 27, 2016. Joining Byrne, McAvoy and Fassbender in the cast are Jennifer Lawrence, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Alexandra Shipp, Evan Peters and Nicholas Hoult.
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" actor Oscar Isaac will join the ensemble as the titular character and main villain Apocalypse.
