10 Ways The X-Men Films Nearly Turned Out Very Differently
7. Wolverine Became The X-Men Leader - X-Men: Apocalypse
In X-Men: Apocalypse, Stryker kidnaps Charles Xavier's students and imprisons them in his compound. After the teens free Weapon X AKA Wolverine, he kills Stryker's forces, allowing the X-Men to liberate the rest of the mutants.
Because Wolverine is the face of the franchise, it was disappointing to see the character delegated to a such a small role. Not only is he barely in it, he has no dialogue whatsoever.
But according to writer and producer, Simon Kinberg, meeting Logan was meant to be a turning point in the story. After the mansion was destroyed, the adamantium-laced mutant would be introduced and whip the heroes into shape like a drill sergeant to defeat Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen.
But because the director was setting up the Phoenix storyline in this film and its successor, he didn't want another character stealing Jean Grey's thunder. He felt like Jean needed to be the person that brings the X-Men together in the climax, and so made her the one to defeat Apocalypse. Sadly, this decision led to Wolverine's story arc being retooled into a glorified cameo.