Halle Berry has broken her silence on one of the most talked-about handovers in the new era of superhero cinema. The actress, who played Storm in the original X-Men saga, has spoken out about Maya Boyd, the performer chosen by Marvel Studios to take on the role of Ororo Munroe in the new mutant era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The topic carries particular weight at a moment when Marvel Studios is finalizing the cast of its next X-Men film, while doubts grow over whether the franchise's original actors, including Berry, will have any kind of future involvement in the multiverse before the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars.
Halle Berry Openly Supports the MCU’s New Storm
In an interview with PEOPLE, Halle Berry publicly addressed Maya Boyd's casting as Storm for the first time. The Oscar-winning actress showed no trace of territorial attitude toward the character who defined a major part of her superhero movie career.
As she explained, she trusts that Boyd will do a good job with the character and stressed that her own portrayal of Storm will remain, in her words, uniquely hers, regardless of who takes on the role going forward.
Berry added that she's curious to see what approach the new actress will bring to the character and said she's confident the result will be satisfying. The actress compared the situation to what happened with Catwoman, a character she also played in 2004 and who has since been portrayed by other actresses without that diminishing the value of her own version.
A Legacy That Began in 2000
Halle Berry debuted as Ororo Munroe in X-Men (2000) and reprised the role in X2, X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past. For much of the audience, her portrayal became directly associated with the early years of the mutant franchise on the big screen.
Could Halle Berry Return as Storm Before Secret Wars?
One of the aspects generating the most attention among fans is whether Marvel Studios will allow both versions of Storm to coexist, even briefly, thanks to the narrative possibilities of the multiverse.
At the moment, there's no indication that Halle Berry will appear in Avengers: Doomsday alongside other actors linked to the previous X-Men films produced by 20th Century Fox. Her absence is notable, especially since several historic faces from the mutant saga will indeed return in that film.
That gap opens the door to another possibility: Avengers: Secret Wars. Given its multiversal premise, this upcoming film could become the ideal setting to bring back characters who don't fit into Doomsday.
In fact, when asked directly in 2024 whether she would return to the role of Storm, Halle Berry didn't rule out the possibility and replied with a laugh that you never know, and that time will tell.
Various theories have circulated around this situation, ranging from a possible story explanation for the absence of characters like Storm or Jean Grey among the X-Men returning to the MCU, to the possibility that certain negotiations never came to fruition. Marvel Studios has not yet offered any official clarification on the matter.
The New X-Men Generation Already Has a Confirmed Cast
While the question of the original actors' future remains unresolved, Marvel Studios is moving forward steadily in building a new mutant generation. The upcoming X-Men film will be directed by Jake Schreier, who helmed Thunderbolts*, and will feature an almost entirely new cast.
Kit Connor will play Scott Summers/Cyclops, Sadie Sink will portray Jean Grey, Inde Navarrette will be Rogue, and Asa Germann will take on the role of Angel. Maya Boyd, at the center of this controversy, will play Storm, while Christopher Abbott will portray Professor Charles Xavier.
Mister Sinister Joins the New Mutant Era
The cast also includes two more heavyweight names. Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost, while Adam Driver will portray Nathaniel Milbury, one of the aliases used in the comics by Mister Sinister.
The inclusion of this character points toward one of the most significant villains in the mutant universe in the comics. Rumors have also circulated about a possible presence of Apocalypse as a major threat in this new era, though that information should be taken with caution until Marvel Studios officially confirms its plans.
The new X-Men film is set to release exclusively in theaters on May 5, 2028. There's still a long way to go until then, but Marvel Studios is already laying the groundwork for a new mutant generation. The question remains open: whether, before finally passing the torch, Halle Berry will get one last chance to play Storm within the MCU.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maya Boyd, the MCU’s new Storm?
Maya Boyd is the actress chosen by Marvel Studios to play Storm (Ororo Munroe) in the upcoming X-Men film, directed by Jake Schreier and set for release in 2028.
What did Halle Berry say about Maya Boyd?
Halle Berry expressed her support for Maya Boyd, said she trusts her portrayal of Storm, and compared the situation to what previously happened with the Catwoman character.
Will Halle Berry return as Storm in the MCU?
There's no official confirmation for now. She won't appear in Avengers: Doomsday, though it hasn't been ruled out that Avengers: Secret Wars could offer an opportunity for her return thanks to the multiverse.
When does the new X-Men film in the MCU release?
The new X-Men film, directed by Jake Schreier, will be released exclusively in theaters on May 5, 2028.
Who makes up the new X-Men cast in the MCU?
The cast includes Kit Connor as Cyclops, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Asa Germann as Angel, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury, an alias of Mister Sinister.
Will Halle Berry appear in Avengers: Doomsday?
Based on the information available so far, Halle Berry is not part of the confirmed cast of Avengers: Doomsday.
