It seemed that X-Men: Apocalypse was barely in cinemas last year before people already began talking about what was next for Xavier’s famed mutants. The talk was that the next film in the main X-franchise would be set in the ‘90s and that it could very well centre around Jean Grey and the famed Dark Phoenix Saga. Well now the current Jean herself, Sophie Turner, has confirmed that the next movie in the series will start shooting this year.

Speaking to HeyUGuys, Turner revealed, “We’re about to start shooting the next X-Men, we’ve just finished shooting Season 7 of Thrones, and I’ve got a couple of movies to do before X-Men starts. And then we go on to Season 8.”

As mentioned, the latest (and most constant) rumours about the plot of this next X-Men movie is that it will focus on The Dark Phoenix Saga.

Of course, the whole Phoenix element was previously seen in X-Men: The Last Stand, with Famke Janssen’s Jean being taken over by the all-powerful Phoenix Force. In X-Men: Apocalypse, we saw a glimpse of Sophie Turner’s young Jean battling her own demons.

Whilst The Last Stand did indeed feature the Dark Phoenix as a plot point, it was largely used as a side dish to the film’s greater story. In this next movie, it’s believed that the Phoenix will be the main focus of the film. Given how the Phoenix is seen as one of the most powerful characters in the entire Marvel comic book world – having actually defeated the world-eating Galactus at one point – it’s about time the character is given the full spotlight.

In the comic book realm, the Phoenix is a cosmic force from deepest space. With previous speculation claiming that the next X-Men movie could well head to the stars, that certainly opens up the possibility to bring the Dark Phoenix into the fold.

There’s nothing official on this next X-Men picture right now, with no director or writing team announced, but there is suggestion out there that the film will be called X-Men: Supernova. That’s all merely a rumour right now, though. All that we know for sure is that the film will take place in the ‘90s.

As ever, expect more on this as it develops.

In the meantime, you can get your next X-fix when Hugh Jackman makes his final appearance as Wolverine in Logan, in UK cinemas March 1st.