As Marvel Studios desperately attempts to steady its footing after years of declining box office returns and fan frustration, a new rumor threatens to derail the comeback before it even begins. According to industry scooper @MyTimeToShineHello, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo is being eyed to play Storm in the upcoming X-Men reboot—potentially one of the most important and influential films in the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Of course this is an unverified rumor so, as always, take it with a grain of salt.
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) is being eyed to play Storm in the MCU pic.twitter.com/RaJ4KJL0BL
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) May 17, 2025
The report follows Erivo’s own public campaigning for the role. In an interview with the National Board of Review, she called Storm her “dream role.”
“I really want to play Storm,” she said. “I know it sounds frivolous, but I think we haven’t uncovered how grand she is and all of the inner turmoil that she has.”
Cynthia Erivo tells NBR her next dream role is X-Men’s Storm 👀🌩️ #NBRAwards #CynthiaErivo pic.twitter.com/LS8LNJekAv
— National Board of Review (@NBRfilm) January 8, 2025
While her enthusiasm may seem harmless on the surface, the reality is far more complicated. Erivo is no stranger to controversy. She has repeatedly found herself in hot water over the years due to public outbursts and an aggressive posture toward fans—most notably during the Wicked poster backlash, when she lashed out at harmless fan edits (the fan covered her eyes to more closely resemble the Broadway poster) of the musical’s promotional art, calling them “degrading,” “hurtful,” and the most “wildly offensive” thing she had ever seen.
Rather than engage in good faith or brush off the minor incident, she chose to escalate, condemning fans and alienating potential supporters in the process.
Cynthia Erivo in an interview – YouTube, CBS Sunday Morning
She also put herself over other women who have played Elphaba in the past, including original Elphaba Idina Menzel, solely due to her orientation and race.
This kind of behavior has become a pattern. Erivo has built a reputation not just as an actress, but as a performer who frequently centers race, sexuality, and personal identity politics in both her work and public persona. Rather than play a role and embodying that role, Erivo consistently tried to force the role to embody her.
She even stated that Elphaba’s microbraids in Wicked were meant as a way to show what was “underneath the green.”
“I didn’t want to remove myself from Elphaba,” she said. “I wanted to connect the two.”
That may align with the industry’s current messaging priorities, but for Marvel, it’s a powder keg waiting to blow.
Cynthia Erivo performing at a concert – YouTube, Capital Concerts
Storm is not just another character in the X-Men pantheon. As one of the most iconic heroes in Marvel Comics, Ororo Munroe commands immense respect from the fanbase. She’s a weather-controlling goddess, a team leader, and a symbol of resilience. Her introduction into the MCU is not just inevitable—it’s foundational. Whoever is cast must unite audiences, not divide them.
Erivo’s history suggests that instead of elevating the character, she risks making the role all about herself—something fans have already grown tired of after years of identity-first casting decisions that seem to prioritize PR optics over storytelling. And at a time when Marvel desperately needs to reconnect with its base, choosing an actress with a track record of antagonizing the very people who buy tickets might be the studio’s most baffling move yet.
Ayo Edebiri. Photo Credit: E M, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
What’s more, this rumored casting comes after fans were already rattled by separate reports that Marvel was considering another politically charged activist—Ayo Edebiri—for the same role. Now, with Cynthia Erivo allegedly rising to the top of the Storm shortlist, it’s clear Marvel may be doubling down on a path that many believe has contributed to its recent slump.
Official casting for the X-Men reboot has yet to be announced, though development is reportedly ramping up ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. Marvel has already begun seeding the mutant storyline in projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and the animated X-Men ’97. Storm’s proper debut in the MCU is expected to be a major moment, one that could shape the future of the franchise.
Storm wielding Thor’s Hammer in Marvel What If…? Season 3 – Disney Plus
Other rumored casting includes Jesse Plemons as Beast, Julia Butters as Kitty Pryde, Margaret Qualley as Rogue, and Sadie Sink—previously linked to Jean Grey—now reportedly joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day instead. But none of those names carry the same explosive potential as Erivo, whose presence would undoubtedly dominate headlines… for all the wrong reasons.
A Screenshot of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the Wicked Movie Trailer, YouTube – Universal Pictures
Marvel Studios says it wants to rebuild its universe and restore trust with audiences. If that’s true, it might be time to ask whether hiring someone best known for public tantrums, fan-blaming, and divisive rhetoric is really the way to do it.
Do you think Marvel will cast Cynthia Erivo as Storm? Sound off in the comments below and let us know your thoughts!
The woman is a singer, I tell you. She’s always saying, “Me, me, me, me, me! It’s all about me, me, me, me, me!”
I say let Marvel cast her. It will just help tank the franchise that much faster. Assuming it isn’t completely shutdown if F4 fails as miserably as people are predicting.
They can cast whomever they want, doesn’t mean people are going to pay to see it. I know I won’t pay to watch anything she’s ever been in or will be.
I didn’t mind her character in “Bad Times at the El Royale”. Boy. Talk about peaking early. Kinda like Macaulay Culkin.
I think I’ll save my money and just rewatch the Fox X-Men movies instead.
I’ll just reread GS 1, 94-143. Some into the 200’s.
Grody.
Did they learn nothing from casting Au currant actresses in a couple’ a really recent outing in snow white and that marvels thing? Even a dog learns the perils of an electric fence after one, no more than two zaps.