In a recent conversation with ComicBook.com about her upcoming Netflix film “The Union,” Halle Berry disclosed that Ryan Reynolds never reached out to her about reprising her role as Storm from the “X-Men” franchise in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Despite the Marvel blockbuster featuring remarkable returns from Fox’s Marvel era, including Jennifer Garner as Elektra and Wesley Snipes as Blade, Berry’s Storm was absent.
Berry mentioned that although Blake Lively once inquired if she would appear in one of her husband’s movies as Storm, Reynolds never followed up on the offer. Berry’s portrayal of Storm spanned four “X-Men” films: 2000’s “X-Men,” 2003’s “X2: X-Men United,” 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Although characters from these films appeared in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” such as Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth and Aaron Stanford’s Pyro, Berry’s Storm was not among them. Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier also did not return, with director Shawn Levy confirming that Stewart’s involvement was never considered during development.
Berry’s role as Storm remains iconic, though she has previously spoken about her contentious working relationship with “X-Men” and “X2” director Bryan Singer. She has candidly expressed frustration with Singer, citing disagreements and a challenging work environment, especially during harsh conditions in Banff, Canada.
After Singer’s departure, Brett Ratner took over “X-Men: The Last Stand,” although Matthew Vaughn, who was initially courted for the film, rejected the offer after discovering a plan to deceive Berry into reprising her role with a script she hadn’t approved.
Vaughn’s revelation about this deceptive tactic led him to quit the project, though Berry eventually returned for “The Last Stand,” which did not include the African setting from the script Vaughn reviewed. Instead, the film elevated Storm’s role, with her character assuming leadership of Xavier’s school for mutants.