Patrick Stewart teases possible 'X-Men: Apocalypse' appearance

Patrick Stewart returns to the famous wheelchair to portray Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men: Days of Future Past, which hits U.S. theaters on May 23. The film features the original generation of mutants and the new, younger incarnations from ­X-Men: First Class.

Previous reports have also indicated that the DOFP sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse, will also focus on the First Class generation when it hits theaters in 2016. So it would stand to reason that Days of Future Past would pass the reins along to James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and the rest. But does that mean the older mutants would disappear?

Stewart spoke to MTV and spoke optimistically about the possibility of older Charles' return to the franchise in Apocalypse.

"I don't see why not," he said. "That is one of the blessings about fantasy and science fiction. You're never really dead. I would love to come back and do some more."

The line about never being dead could be a hint that his character dies in Days of Future Past. Then again, he "died" in X-Men: The Last Stand and came back to life, so it could be a reference to that, as well.

Stewart went on to say the following:

"There might be something else. A little bird has whispered that there might be something X-Men related."

Fox has more X-Men movies in the pipeline, up to an untitled project scheduled for release on July 18, 2018. Could Stewart appear in this movie?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.