Janelle Monáe Told 'Black Panther's' Ryan Coogler She Wants To Play Storm In The MCU

After acquiring 20th Century Fox, Disney gained control of the ‘X-Men’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ franchises. This opens up all sorts of new options for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the possibility of recasting certain characters. While no official announcements have been made, the multi-talented Janelle Monáe has already expressed interest in the iconic super-heroine Storm.

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Alexandra Shipp, who played Storm in Fox’s recent ‘X-Men’ movies, has repeatedly said that she hopes to continue as the mutant character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, other actresses have been vying for the role and the competition seems to have gotten thicker.

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In a recent interview with Empire, actor/musician Monáe explained how she has already been having some conversations about the role. While recording her most recent album Dirty Computer in the same city where “Black Panther” was being filmed, several cast members stopped by her studio, including Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, and Michael B. Jordan. Given that Storm and Black Panther were once married in the comics, Monáe’s connection to the cast of “Black Panther” may work in her favor. 

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“One of my dreams has always been to play Storm,” she said. “A lot of women have played Storm and they’ve done an exceptional job, and I would love to be in that line of artists and get to do Storm justice.” When asked if she has spoken to director Ryan Coogler, Monáe explains that has made her wishes clear, saying “I definitely have thrown it out there.”

While Monáe may be aiming for the role, it may be a while before Storm is introduced. The comic book romance between Storm and the King of Wakanda allows for some potential, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has already said that we may be waiting over five years for an X-Men movie. Even if Monáe is successful in taking on the mantle of the iconic mutant, it could take a long time before she appears on the big screen.