Cynthia Erivo , the acclaimed actress who has truly cemented her fame with her role in the musical Wicked , has revealed her desire to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The British actress recently stated, without hesitation, that she would love to play Storm , one of the most iconic mutants on the X-Men team, in future Marvel Studios films . Is something brewing that we don't know about?
A Marvel mutant with great potential
During an interview with the National Board of Review , Erivo was asked about the characters she would like to play in the future. Without hesitation, she mentioned Storm, also known as Ororo Munroe, as her dream role. In her own words: “ I really want to play Storm . I know it sounds frivolous, but I think we haven’t discovered how great she is and all the internal conflict she has. I think there’s a world out there where we could explore that.”
Storm , created by Marvel in 1975, is one of the most powerful women in the X-Men universe. She can manipulate the weather at will and has led the team on several occasions in the comics. She was previously portrayed by Halle Berry ( pictured below) and Alexandra Shipp in the Fox films, but her future in the MCU remains uncertain as Marvel has yet to officially integrate the character into its film continuity.
Erivo's enthusiasm also comes at a time when Marvel Studios is preparing to welcome mutants into its cinematic universe. Although Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that the X-Men will be an important part of the MCU's future, the team's official introduction isn't expected until after Avengers: Secret Wars , scheduled for 2027. So, there's still some time before we see anything like this materialize.
The X-Men on the MCU horizon
Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, fans have been eager to see the X-Men integrated into the studio's expansive cinematic universe. While characters like Beast and Professor X have already appeared in films such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels , there's still much to be done regarding the full team of mutants.
Marvel has also begun to introduce mutants into its narrative indirectly. For example, Kamala Khan, the protagonist of the Ms. Marvel series, was confirmed as a mutant. Furthermore, Namor, the antagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , is also a mutant according to the MCU's rules.
Cynthia Erivo 's desire to play Storm could therefore come at the perfect time . Marvel Studios is in the early stages of planning for the introduction of the X-Men, with numerous rumors circulating about potential casts and character choices. Erivo's experience portraying emotionally charged characters positions her as a strong contender for this iconic Marvel role, which could well explore the superheroine 's internal conflict and her struggle to lead the famous team.
Cynthia Erivo: a career on the rise
At just 38 years old, Cynthia Erivo has proven herself to be a talented actress and singer. Her performance in the musical The Color Purple earned her a Tony Award, a Grammy, and an Emmy. In the world of film, she stood out in movies such as Harriet, for which she received two Oscar nominations (Best Actress and Best Songwriter for the song "Stand Up" on the soundtrack). More recently, she has been acclaimed for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked , the first installment of which has already been a resounding box office success .
Now, with Wicked 2 slated for November 2025, Erivo seems to be seeking new artistic challenges. His interest in the character of Storm has undoubtedly created a great deal of excitement among fans, who believe he would be an excellent choice to bring the mutant to life in the MCU. However, we'll have to wait a little longer to find out what Marvel decides—or until they make it official, in case this is just a marketing strategy to generate hype. Patience.