'My Storm was my Storm': Halle Berry on the 23-year-old taking the role from her at Marvel
Berry played Ororo Munroe across four X-Men films. Marvel’s X-Men, with Kit Connor and Sadie Sink, is set for 5 May 2028.
After years of speculation, Marvel Studios is finally folding the X-Men into their massive MCU machine, and with it comes a new face for an old favourite: Storm. This time, it’s Maya Boyd taking up the mantle previously donned by Halle Berry—who, by the way, has a thing or two to say about her successor.
Berry passes the torch
For anyone whose main memory of Storm is Halle Berry conjuring up tornadoes and icy glares in the early 2000s, you might be wondering how she’s feeling about someone else leading Marvel’s weather goddess. Berry turned up at LA’s Create & Cultivate Festival and was asked her thoughts on Boyd sliding into the role when X-Men returns under Marvel’s own banner. The short answer: she’s all for it.
Here’s what the former Storm had to say in a chat with PEOPLE, sounding both supportive and just a tiny bit proud of her own legacy:
“I believe she’s going to kill it. You know what I mean? Yeah, there’s people playing Storm. No, my Storm was my Storm, and I wish her so well. I very much look forward to seeing what her version will be. I’m sure she’s going to murder it.”
Berry, who’s now 60 years old (try not to feel ancient, everyone), played Ororo Munroe across four X-Men films (X-Men, X2, The Last Stand, and Days of Future Past). She basically defined the character for a generation of filmgoers, so her blessing isn’t nothing.
Who’s Maya Boyd, anyway?
If the name Maya Boyd leaves you blank, you’re probably not alone. Boyd, at 23, comes from a musical theatre background and has already done stints in West End shows like & Juliet and Merrily We Roll Along. She’s just been officially unveiled as the new Storm during Disney’s splashy D23 showcase. So, yes, she’s got pipes and stage presence to back her up—not to mention the biggest superhero franchise juggernaut behind her.
Maya Boyd was announced as Storm for the MCU’s X-Men film during Disney’s D23 event.
Berry doesn’t see herself as being replaced so much as passing the baton. She even compared the situation to her own time stepping into iconic shoes for 2004’s Catwoman (which, fair warning, will always start arguments in comic book fan circles). According to Berry, there’s plenty of room for reinterpretation when it comes to long-running heroes:
“And what I love is the same thing happened with Catwoman. Everybody has their version of who that character is and how they internalize it.”
What’s coming in the new X-Men?
The MCU X-Men film, in case you missed the announcement, is being helmed by Jake Schreier. Alongside Maya Boyd, the cast is a bit of a who’s who of rising talent and Netflix darlings: Kit Connor is playing Cyclops, Sadie Sink will be your new Jean Grey, Christopher Abbott takes on Professor X, and Samara Weaving is in as Emma Frost. Unlike the previous Fox films, this will be the first time the mutants are properly woven into the MCU timeline and mayhem.
Mark your calendar or set a countdown app, because Marvel’s X-Men is locked for a 5 May 2028 cinema release. That’s plenty of time to argue about casting, hairstyles, and whether or not Storm finally gets more to do than control lightning and glower at Cyclops.