Thanks to Disney's purchase of all Fox media assets earlier this year, it's been confirmed that the X-Men are finally set to make their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Details, of course, are scarce as to how and when that'll happen. The good news, however, is that this is now an opportunity for the MCU to reflect on the 20th Century Fox X-Men universe (that audiences know and love) and really evaluate how they want to (re)introduce the mutants. Former Storm actress Halle Berry has already expressed interest in returning as Storm in the MCU. She said: “I would absolutely return to it, it’s a beloved character, I loved playing Storm, and people love Storm. So, I would absolutely, you know, if we could find a version that would make sense, or a storyline that would make sense, I would absolutely do that, for sure.”
A few years ago, it may have been impossible for Berry (and Berry's interpretation of Storm) to enter the MCU. However, the current phase 4 has explored the overarching idea of the multiverse across multiple projects, from WandaVision to the newly released Spider-Man: No Way Home. In fact, the latest Spider-Man film saw the return of beloved actors and characters from previous franchises. The possibilities, in short, are endless now that the multiverse has burst wide open. As such, here are possible storylines for Halle Berry's Storm to explore in the MCU.
Storm's Origin Story
The concept of a hero's origin story has been replicated and rebooted time and time again, though there are heroes that have yet to receive the full origin-story treatment (and who need them most). Ororo "Storm" Monroe's origins are deeply rooted in conflict and culture and have yet to be explored through any of the previous live-action adaptations. Born a tribal princess of Kenya, Storm was later raised in Harlem, New York City, and then Cairo, Egypt. She was deemed an orphan after her parents were killed during the Israeli-Arab conflict (which still continues on through the real world). More than that, she was the first major Black woman superhero and comic book haracter, and is a descendant of an ongoing line of African witch-priestesses, all of which were never fully expounded upon through live-action X-Men lore. With such a rich background, Berry's possible return could give her the long-overdue chance to properly introduce Storm and pay respect to her trailblazing legacy.
Storm Versus Cyclops
After being stripped of her powers in Uncanny X-Men 201, Storm takes on Scott "Cyclops" Summers in order to win over the title of being the leader of the X-Men. The comic examines Summers' fresh fatherhood, which leaves the position of "leader" vulnerable for the taking. Storm sees herself as a fit candidate and challenges Cyclops for his once-held leadership. While Cyclops is known to be a skilled strategist, Storm doesn't hesitate in directly approaching him in order to take him down. The move itself is bold, but it demonstrates significantly how Storm is qualified for leadership over the X-Men, especially since Cyclops fails to resist her. After defeating him, Storm is quick to assume control over the team, ultimately removing Cyclops from the X-Men.
Throughout the canon of the live-action X-Men film series, Cyclops has been viewed as a leader figure alongside Professor Charles Xavier. There has seldom been a change in leadership throughout the cinematic franchises of the X-Men, and a new figurehead of the team could easily infuse diversity to an already-interesting team. Berry's reprise of the weather witch could allow her to move to the forefront of the X-Men, and stand out as a prominent woman hero in the MCU.
Worlds Apart / Queen of Wakanda
The comic book series X-Men: Worlds Apart follows one of Storm's most personal stories and crises. After T'Challa (Black Panther) has been possessed by the Shadow King, Storm is torn between her life as an X-Man and her ties to the nation of Wakanda through her queendom. She struggles between her loyalties to her people and her team, with unhappiness thrashing about in the middle. Atop her moral anguish, she is asked to face the reality of her hunger for power. After her marriage to T'Challa bound her as the Queen of Wakanda before their divorce, her identity is split between worlds based on her relationships.
Wakanda has become a nation rising in prominence in the MCU, and with Black Panther spin-offs and sequels on their way, Storm could easily find her way to the throne. This would serve as a bridge between franchises, and stand as a pivotal move for incorporating greater crossover events as the MCU moves forward. It would push for more diverse, inclusive, and multi-cultural storytelling through Marvel Studios.
Lifedeath
There's a step taken back from focusing on how powerful Storm is as a mutant as Lifedeath juts into a more raw, human look at Storm. The storyline acts as more of a character study as Storm is to cope with the loss of her mutation and find the will to keep herself carrying on. Through her turmoil, she explores her life as a "human," and begins to develop a relationship with Forge, a tribal shaman who seeks out a way to restore her powers. The relationship between the two is then cut short after Storm discovers that her powers were taken away by Forge's invention.
Lifeblood is an uncomfortably close portrait of Storm who moves through the motions of self-grief in real-time, having to address the reality of losing a part of her identity. It isn't often that mental health is transparently looked at through the lens of the comic book genre. Berry, if reinstated as Storm in the MCU, could pave the way for more dramatic and grounded narratives about mental health from a fictional point of view.
Goddess of Thunder
The multiverse now being opened means that the possibilities are truly endless for the MCU. Of course, tangled timelines come with a cost and allow for the more creative crossing of paths between characters and worlds. On a number of occasions, Storm has been deemed worthy of wielding Mjolnir and has become the Goddess of Thunder throughout the comics.
Thor: Love and Thunder prepares to pass the hammer from Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) to Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), per writer-director Taika Waititi's confirmation. With the overlap of universes that shows no sign of slowing down, there's no denying the possibility of having Monroe join side-by-side, or even face off against, the new Thor. Colliding character narratives don't stop any two from bearing the same powers, meaning that Monroe could embrace her title of the Goddess of Thunder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.