Halle Berry’s stormy past with the X-Men franchise
Halle Berry recently shared some intriguing insights about her time as Storm in the X-Men series and her absence from the latest Marvel blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine. In a candid interview, Berry revealed that she was never approached by Ryan Reynolds to reprise her iconic role, despite the film featuring several surprise returns from Fox’s Marvel era.
A missed opportunity
When asked if there were any discussions about her playing Storm again, Berry responded, “No.” She recounted a casual conversation with Blake Lively at a fashion show, where Lively inquired if Berry would consider appearing in her husband’s movie. Berry’s response was affirmative, but the call from Reynolds never came.
Berry’s portrayal of Storm spanned four X-Men movies: X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Despite the return of characters like Sabretooth and Pyro in Deadpool & Wolverine, Berry’s Storm and Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier were notably absent. Director Shawn Levy confirmed that Stewart’s return was never considered during the film’s development.
Storm’s legacy and Berry’s battles
Storm remains one of Berry’s most iconic roles, but her journey with the character wasn’t without its challenges. Berry has been vocal about her clashes with X-Men director Bryan Singer. She famously told him, “You can kiss my Black ass,” during one heated argument. Berry described Singer as a difficult person to work with, citing his well-known struggles and the frustration it caused on set.
“Bryan’s not the easiest dude to work with,” Berry said. “Everybody’s heard the stories — I don’t have to repeat them. I got into a few fights with him, said a few cuss words out of sheer frustration. When I work, I’m serious about that. And when that gets compromised, I get a little nutty.”
Berry recalled the harsh conditions they faced while filming in Banff, Canada, with subzero temperatures. Singer’s lack of focus during these challenging shoots only added to the tension. “Sometimes, because of whatever he’s struggling with, he just didn’t always feel present,” Berry added. “And we’re outside in our little ‘X-Men’ stage freezing our ass off, and he’s not focusing. And we’re freezing. You might get a little mad.”
The untold story of X-Men: The Last Stand
Singer was eventually replaced by Brett Ratner for X-Men: The Last Stand, but the studio initially courted director Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn revealed that he turned down the offer after discovering a deceptive plan to lure Berry back into the role of Storm.
“One of the main reasons I quit ‘X-Men 3,’ and this is a true story,” Vaughn said. “I went to an executive’s office and saw an ‘X3’ script. It was a lot fatter. I asked, ‘What is this draft?’ They were like, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ So I grabbed it, and opened the first page, and it said, ‘Africa. Kids dying from no water, and Storm creates a thunderstorm to save all these children.’”
Vaughn thought it was a compelling idea but was dismayed to learn that it was merely a ploy to get Berry to sign on. “They said, ‘This is the Halle Berry script, because she hasn’t signed on yet. This is what she wants it to be. And once she signs on, we’ll throw it in the bin.’ I thought, if you’re going to do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm, I quit.”
Berry did return for X-Men: The Last Stand, but the film did not include the African scenes Vaughn had read. However, the movie did give Storm a more prominent role, with her character taking over as the head of Charles Xavier’s school for mutants after his death.
Reflecting on the past and looking forward
Berry’s experiences with the X-Men franchise highlight the complexities and challenges actors often face behind the scenes. Her candid reflections offer a glimpse into the realities of working on big-budget films and the personal and professional dynamics that shape their creation.
For fans of cinema and TV series, Berry’s journey as Storm is a testament to her resilience and dedication to her craft. As we look forward to future Marvel projects, it’s worth considering the untold stories and behind-the-scenes struggles that contribute to the characters and narratives we love.
For more insights and trailers, check out the links to the movies mentioned: