Cynthia Erivo Eyes Her “Childhood Fantasy” X-Men Role, as Mutants’ MCU Inches Closer

Published 06/04/2026, 10:37 AM EDT

via Imago

Cynthia Erivo has captivated fans by candidly discussing that she hopes to embody Storm from X- Men next. Following her massive success in Wicked: For Good, the celebrated star is officially looking toward the future and teasing her ultimate dream superhero role. The ultimate magical transformation for Erivo involves swapping her witch broom for the majestic power to control the weather. Her aspirations stretch from legendary comic book heroes to influential historical figures.

The actress is already aiming for the skies with some incredibly ambitious cinematic goals.

Cynthia Erivo sets her sights on storm

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The highly anticipated X-Men reboot is currently in active development at Marvel Studios. During a recent discussion with Variety about her massive success of Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo revealed that she wants to play Storm from the X-Men, describing the Marvel character as a childhood dream of hers.

"Childhood fantasy of mine," she described this specific ambition. If Marvel Studios selects her, the physical comparison would bring a striking dynamic to the silver screen. Erivo frequently sports a bold, short buzzcut, which stands in contrast to the traditional long, flowing white hair often seen on Ororo Munroe in the comic books.

Beyond the realm of comic book superheroes, the versatile actress is preparing to portray a real-life musical legend. She will star as the legendary South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba in the upcoming Studiocanal biographical drama titled The Road Home. Cynthia Erivo expressed her deep vulnerability regarding the project.

“Which I’m really excited and scared about,” she said.

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The competition for this coveted superhero role remains incredibly fierce among Hollywood elites.

The fierce hollywood race for the marvel icon, Storm

The star-studded list of competitors expands even further with several massive names from the music and film industries. DeWanda Wise, widely recognized for her standout performance in Jurassic World: Dominion, previously stated to The Movie Dweeb in 2024 that Ororo Munroe is the only Marvel character she has ever wanted to play.

“It’s the only Marvel character I’ve ever been interested in,” DeWanda told The Movie Dweeb. Her public enthusiasm places her as a passionate, long-standing contender for the legendary weather-controlling mutant. If Beale Street Could Talk breakout star KiKi Layne has openly put her name forward, as reported by Variety in 2019.

“She was an image of myself, of a powerful chocolate-black woman, and I just think that’s an amazing image to have, and I really want to play Storm,” Layne said. Grammy-winning singer SZA also made it known that she would love to play Storm.

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“I think that would be so gnarly if I could be Storm (in an) origin story. I love to bring the range,” SZA said to JoBlo in 2025. Although public passion runs incredibly high, no official casting has been locked in or announced by Marvel Studios executives for the X-Men reboot. Whether Cynthia Erivo secures the weather-controlling crown or passes it to another talented contender, Storm deserves the best in developing a highly anticipated X-Men reboot.

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What do you think about Cynthia Erivo's dream to play Storm's role? Let us know in the comments.

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Soma Mitra

1384 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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