Casting Storm In The MCU: 10 Actors Who"d Be Perfect

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There are several perfect actors who could take on the role of Storm, who could very well be on her way to the MCU. Aside from an appearance of a Professor X variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there's been no word of the MCU's X-Men team, but that could soon change as more mutants are expected to appear throughout Phases 5 and 6. The potential formation of the X-Men could come with the arrival of Storm, as her character is crucial to a significant portion of their stories in Marvel Comics.
So far, she's been played by two different actors on the big screen. Halle Berry debuted as Storm in 2000's X-Men, and the role was later taken on by Alexandra Shipp in X-Men: Apocalypse. In Marvel Comics, Storm - real name Ororo Munroe - is one of the most powerful members of the X-Men, and is often depicted as the leader of the mutant team. She was also the first major African female hero in American comics, which only adds to her significance. For many reasons, the prospect of a Storm appearance in the MCU is an exciting one. As for who could bring the character to life, Marvel has an appealing list of options.
10 Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer is one of the most popular choices to join the cast of the MCU's X-Men, particularly following Palmer's own confession that she was "manifesting a superhero role" during a video with Vogue. Many have suggested that Palmer may be perfect for the role of Rogue in the MCU, but she would also fit the bill for a younger and more vibrant version of Storm. Over her fruitful career, Palmer has mastered the balance between drama and comedy, which would allow her to integrate brilliantly into the MCU, particularly after starring in 2022's eye-opening Alice, and Jordan Peele's thrilling Nope.
9 Anna Diop

Anna Diop is no stranger to action roles and supernatural mysteries, having starring roles in 2015's The Messengers and 2016's 24: Legacy, but the Senegalese-American actor has more recently been featured in DC's Titans on HBO Max. As Kory Anders, a.k.a. Starfire, Diop has already gained experience performing as a mystical member of a royal family, and since Starfire can absorb and manipulate solar energy, a weather-related role may be an interesting fit for Diop in the MCU. Diop would bring a fun and energetic presence to the MCU's Storm, while also providing an air of regality and power that is crucial to the character.
8 Freema Agyeman

Freema Agyeman rose to fame in 2007 after starring in Doctor Who as Martha Jones, a role she reprised in several special episodes in both Doctor Who and the spinoff Torchwood. Since then, roles in Law & Order: UK, Sense8, New Amsterdam, and The Matrix Resurrections have showed off her dramatic range and versatility, which would make her perfect for the role of Storm in the MCU's X-Men reboot. Agyeman would bring a comforting and approachable presence to the massive MCU role, while still being able to pull off large action sequences - and her experience with working with CGI set pieces would surely come in handy.
7 Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris would be able to infuse a certain level of expertise to the role of Storm that would be difficult to match. Her roles in the likes of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the modern James Bond films, Academy Award-winner Moonlight, and the heartfelt Collateral Beauty prove that she is a versatile performer. Her more recent stint in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, portraying Shriek,in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, suggests she may jump at the chance to be a superhero in the MCU, particularly in a role as commanding and rewarding as Storm.
6 Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson is no stranger to performing in comic book adaptations, having previously starred in the likes of Sin City, the DC Animated Movie Universe as Wonder Woman, and The Lego Batman Movie, and currently being featured as Ahsoka Tano in the Star Wars franchise. Dawson also previously appeared as Claire Temple in Marvel Television's Netflix series', beginning with Daredevil in 2015, so has experience working with Marvel on a series of high-action projects. Akin to Mahershala Ali as the MCU's Blade, Dawson could easily be recast as a major MCU character such as Storm, and she would make an incredibly strong choice for the role.
5 Zoë Kravitz

After receiving leading roles in shows such as Big Little Lies and High Fidelity, and showcasing her dramatic acting in indie projects along the lines of Dope, Kimi, and Gemini, Zoë Kravitz has proven that she'd be an excellent asset to add to the MCU's X-Men, particularly in the role of a younger Storm. Kravitz also has prior experience in more action-heavy roles, and has appeared in comic book adaptations such as X-Men: First Class, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Matt Reeves' The Batman as Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman. Kravitz would fit perfectly into a younger cast for the MCU's X-Men, allowing Storm to develop and grow over several years.
4 Thandiwe Newton

Perhaps better known for her dramatic roles in projects such as For Colored Girls, 2012, and The Pursuit of Happyness, Thandiwe Newton has also showcased her ability to command the screen in more action-heavy stories. Most recently, Newton portrayed Maeve Millay in HBO's Westworld, a role which earned her multiple award nominations. In Westworld, Newton demonstrated her skill at performing in high-octane sequences while still maintaining her powerful dramatic performance, perhaps making her the perfect fit for the MCU's Storm - as the MCU's X-Men movie will need to balance these two qualities, packing in the action while carrying a heavy emotional weight.
3 Sonequa Martin-Green

Although she's known for her roles in The Good Wife, Once Upon a Time, and New Girl, Sonequa Martin-Green is perhaps best known for portraying Sasha Williams on AMC's The Walking Dead between 2012 and 2018. This role demanded a huge amount of drama and versatility from Martin-Green, who proved she was adept at pulling off moments of high-emotion while proving how intimidating she could be. Martin-Green is also no stranger to sci-fi, having starred in Star Trek: Discovery and Invincible, meaning she could integrate perfectly into the mystical and fantastical world of the MCU's X-Men.
2 Janelle Monáe

Though perhaps better known for her musical talents, Janelle Monáe's roles in projects such as Homecoming, Moonlight, Antebellum, Hidden Figures, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery have proven that she would be able to fully encapsulate the dramatic, comedic, and emotional role of the MCU's Storm. If cast in an X-Men movie, Monáe would bring a level of class to the role that would brilliantly match the often-regal Ororo Munroe.
1 Jayme Lawson

One of the newest names to throw her hat in the ring to portray the MCU's Storm is Jayme Lawson, who only received her first on-screen role in 2020's Farewell Amor. Since then, outstanding performances in The Batman, The Woman King, The First Lady, and Till have put Lawson on the map, and make her a serious candidate for a high-profile role in the MCU. The First Lady put Lawson in the role of a young Michelle Obama, displaying the sort of screen presence and commanding, but approachable, nature that Storm needs to have in the MCU's first X-Men movie, making Lawson a great potential asset to Marvel Studios' film franchise.
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