Cynthia Erivo's Recent Comments About Storm Have Me Convinced The MCU Needs To Make An Important Change From The X-Men Movies When They Adapt The Marvel Mutant

Cynthia Erivo expressed interest in playing the MCU’s Storm in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men movie, and her comments suggest a major change Marvel can make to finally adapt her correctly. Erivo recently defied gravity in Wicked as Elphaba, and she wants to portray another flying character in the MCU. The cast for Marvel’s X-Men movie may not be announced for a while, but Erivo demonstrates in her comments that she understands the character better than the Fox X-Men movies did.

In a recent interview with the National Board of Review, Erivo said she wants to play the MCU’s Storm, a.k.a. Ororo Monroe, the powerful weather-wielding mutant.

“I really want to play Storm. I know it sounds frivolous, but I think we haven’t uncovered how grand she is and all of that inner turmoil that she has. So I think there’s a world in which we could do something with that.”

Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp previously portrayed Storm in the X-Men films, but there was always something missing from the character’s portrayal. Erivo is right that the X-Men movies never captured how “grand” she is, and Marvel needs to make this significant change to adapt her correctly. After Storm’s recent MCU appearance, I’m convinced Marvel is headed in the right direction.

Cynthia Erivo Is Correct That Marvel Hasn’t Adapted Storm Correctly Yet

Marvel hasn’t shown the full extent of Storm’s powers

Storm is one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel universe. Descended from a long line of African witch-priestesses, Storm can control the weather and atmosphere, giving her God-like abilities unmatched by other mutants. X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 capture Storm’s goddess stature superbly. She speaks as if she’s commanding the elements at her whim, and her voice echoes, striking fear into her enemies. She’s also incredibly wise, and one of the more stoic members of the X-Men.

While Storm has been adapted twice in live-action, Erivo is correct that Marvel hasn’t portrayed her properly. Her ᴀssertion that the films haven’t displayed how “grand” she is perfectly captures what’s missing from previous interpretations in the X-Men films. She’s often sidelined because she’s too powerful, and the movies focus on other characters, like Wolverine and Jean Grey. She hasn’t received the proper attention to develop, but the X-Men movies also fail to show her full potential. She isn’t just another X-man and needs to be portrayed as such.

Fox’s X-Men Films Failed To Display Storm’s God-like Power

Fox never gave Storm the God-like treatment she deserves

Halle Berry's Storm altering the weather in X-Men

Berry and Shipp had good performances as Storm, but much was missing in their portrayals. Berry’s Storm had a reserved personality, rather than the bold and imposing one that Storm often has in the comics and the animated series. She wields impressive displays of power, including summoning tornadoes and lightning strikes, but the direction doesn’t express the awe-inspiring visuals of her abilities. She also doesn’t have Storm’s wit, as most people only remember the Toad quote from her many lines of dialogue.

Shipp never got to develop as Storm since she only played her in two films, X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. She plays a younger version of Storm, and she’s characterized like any other teen. She doesn’t have Storm’s maturity, even though she should be wise beyond her years. Understandably, the second generation of X-Men films wanted the team to grow together, but Storm is usually a wiser, mentor-like figure towards the other X-Men members. While both versions have good qualities, they miss Storm’s larger-than-life personality, which makes her stand out.

I’m Hopeful Marvel Can Get Storm Right After The What If…? Finale

The MCU gave Storm the power of the gods

Magneto said in X-Men ’97 that Storm is “the closest thing to a goddess as we will ever see.” Marvel took that to the next level in the series finale of What If…?, giving Storm the full powers of the God of Thunder. She wields Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, empowering her weather abilities further. While this is a variant of Storm, this is technically her MCU debut, and Marvel proves they see her the same way Magneto does. It’s closer to the Storm from the animated series, with Alison Sealy-Smith returning to voice her.

After seeing this version of Storm, I’m more hopeful that Marvel can finally get Storm right. If this is the version that Kevin Feige prefers, then this may be how she’ll be personified once the X-Men join the MCU in live-action. Even if Erivo isn’t playing her, she still has the right idea regarding how Storm should be adapted. Hopefully, Marvel can finally give the mutant goddess the treatment she deserves.