Revisiting Wolverine's Capture by William Stryker in X-Men: Apocalypse: Unraveling the Timeline Mysteries

In the film X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine's appearance at Alkali Lake and his connection to William Stryker can be a bit confusing, especially considering the timeline changes introduced in X-Men: Days of Future Past. But let's break down what happens.

Timeline Reboot: The Influence of Days of Future Past

The events of Days of Future Past effectively reset the timeline by preventing the assassination of Charles Xavier, leading to a different future for the X-Men. However, this does not erase all previous events; rather, it alters the course of the characters' lives.

Wolverine's Capture: Stryker's Continued Motivations

In X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine is shown to be captured by Stryker and taken to the facility at Alkali Lake. This occurs after the events of Days of Future Past. While the timeline has changed, Stryker's desire to exploit Wolverine's powers remains consistent. Despite the timeline reset, Stryker is still portrayed as a character obsessed with mutants and their powers. His actions in Apocalypse suggest that he continues to seek out Wolverine for his own nefarious purposes, possibly influenced by the events of the previous films and his ongoing interest in weaponizing mutants.

Wolverine's Role in Connecting Storylines

Wolverine's brief appearance in Apocalypse serves to connect the storylines and provide a sense of continuity within the franchise, even as it explores new paths. His encounter with the X-Men, particularly Jean Grey, is significant for the characters' development.

In summary, while the timeline was rebooted, Stryker's motivations and actions remained consistent, leading to Wolverine's recapture at Alkali Lake. This connection serves both as a nod to previous films and as a way to further develop the story within the new timeline established by Days of Future Past.

Late Addition: Mystique's Impersonation of Stryker

It was revealed by the director that having Mystique impersonate Stryker was a last-minute decision. So it was the real Stryker who captured Wolverine, not Mystique. The importance of this detail adds a layer of complexity to the scenario, suggesting that Stryker's motivations are deeply rooted and not easily replaced.

Moreover, because Days of Future Past made it clear that the events of the film were set years before Stryker created Weapon X, and that he founded it because his mutant son Jason murdered his wife, who is only stated to be nine years old, it's important to note that there is nothing stopping this from happening. This timeline coherence ensures that Stryker's journey from creation to subjugation is logically consistent, even in a rebooted universe.