Oscar Isaac has closed a deal to play a villain in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Oscar Isaac
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

The Inside Llewyn Davis star will portray the titular character, a supervillain born with shape-shifting and regenerative powers, in the third instalment of the new X-Men franchise, reported Variety.

Sources claimed that Oscar, who will also be appearing in JJ Abrams’ Star Wars Episode VII, was a “long-time favourite from the start” for director Bryan Singer.

X-Men stars James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender
(Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence will reprise their roles in the follow-up, to be written by Simon Kinberg, and may be joined by newcomers playing younger versions of familiar characters.

Bryan Singer
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Director Bryan has described X-Men: Apocalypse, which is set in the 1980s, as the most destructive movie in the franchise.

“Apocalypse will have more of the mass destruction that X-Men films, to date, have not relied upon,” he said. “There’s definitely now a character and a story that allow room for that kind of spectacle.”

X-Men: Apocalypse is expected to be released in cinemas in May 2016.

Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain
(John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Oscar, 35, will next be seen in JC Chandor’s film A Most Violent Year alongside Jessica Chastain before starring in Star Wars: The Force Awakens alongside Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Adam Driver.