Fox casts a new 'Storm' for upcoming X-Men movie

Jan 23, 2015

Director Bryan Singer ended months-long speculation on who would play Storm, the most popular black female superhero, in the upcoming comic book movie X-Men: Apocalypse.

In a tweet saying, “Meet our new brilliant young mutants,” Singer disclosed that Alexandra Shipp, the 23-year-old Aaliyah actress, will take over the role of the popular heroine. Oscar Award-winning actress Halle Berry portrayed the Marvel Comics character in four of the franchise’s seven previous films.

This role is no doubt a big break for Shipp. Many were critical of her casting and performance in Lifetime’s biopic of the late R&B singer Aaliyah.

Shipp is set to play a younger version of Ororo Munroe, a Kenyan-born mutant with the powers to control the weather who goes by the name of Storm. The character debuted in 1975 in the pages of the X-Men comics and has often been the team’s leader. Storm was once married to the Avenger’s Black Panther, who will be getting his own film in 2017, starring Chadwick Boseman.

Singer also announced the Fox franchise will be featuring a new Cyclops and Jean Grey in actors Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner, best known from her role in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

https://twitter.com/BryanSinger/status/558437540831567872

Shortly after Singer’s tweet, Shipp posted a picture on Instagram of her looking at her phone smiling with the caption, “My current mood right now.” Perhaps the image is from the moment she first received word on her new role.

http://instagram.com/p/yLtsaUk-92/

X-men: Apocalypse is expected to hit theaters in May of 2016. What do you think of the casting choice?