On February 8, 2026, Halle Berry shared her hopes to reprise her role as Storm in future Marvel films, despite the character’s absence from the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Berry, who famously portrayed the mutant superhero in the X-Men franchise from 2000 until 2014, expressed sadness about not appearing in the forthcoming sci-fi-action blockbuster while remaining optimistic about returning in later installments.
Berry Reflects on the Significance of Playing Storm
The 59-year-old Oscar-winning actress spoke about her deep connection to the character of Ororo Munroe, known as Storm, whom she embodied across multiple X-Men movies. Berry described her time playing the weather-controlling mutant as a special experience, one that she cherishes. She said,
“Storm is a very special character to me. I’ve been so blessed when I gotten to play her.”
Berry also highlighted how the themes of the X-Men films, especially the portrayal of mutants as outcasts, resonated personally and culturally, noting their importance to her own children.
She explained,
“And there’ve been movies that I’ve been proud to have my children watch. They have so much to say that I thought has been really important, especially for my children as they’ve grown. So they’re beloved.”
Berry has two children: her daughter Nahla, 17, with ex-husband Gabriel Aubry, and her son Maceo-Robert, 12, from her former marriage to Olivier Martinez.
Familiar Faces Returning to Avengers: Doomsday
While Berry will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, several of her X-Men co-stars are set to return. Notable actors include Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Channing Tatum as Gambit, James Marsden as Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and Rebecca Romijn as Mystique. This ensemble continues the legacy of bringing beloved X-Men characters back into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The film, scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, will also feature major Marvel heroes and villains. Olivier Martinez’s character Storm will not appear, but the cast includes Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (James ‘Bucky’ Barnes), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent), David Harbour (Red Guardian), and Lewis Pullman (Sentry). Notably, Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Tony Stark, will return in a new guise as the villain Doctor Doom.
The Fantastic Four will also make their MCU debut with Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. Chris Evans will reprise his role as Steve Rogers, returning after last appearing as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Character Appearances and Future Marvel Projects
Despite the massive ensemble, one prominent hero will be absent: Mark Ruffalo’s The Incredible Hulk. Although Hulk has been a key figure in the MCU since 2012 and appeared most recently in the 2022 Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Ruffalo confirmed he is open to returning if the franchise has interesting directions for the character.
He remarked in January to Empire magazine,
“As long as they keep finding cool things to do with Hulk. It’s given me so many gifts. You know, I probably wouldn’t be in Crime 101 if it wasn’t for The Avengers.”
The Storyline and Direction of Avengers: Doomsday
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Doomsday promises to unite multiple superhero teams including the Avengers, New Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four. Together, they will face the threat posed by Doctor Doom as he attempts to impose chaos across the Multiverse. This film represents one of the most ambitious crossovers in Marvel’s history, expanding the narrative scope and weaving together characters from previously separate storylines.
