Janelle Monáe throws her hat in the ring to play X-Men’s Storm and we would very much like to see it
Janelle Monáe at the premiere of ‘Queen & Slim’. (Wireimage/ Getty/ Tommaso Boddi))
Janelle Monáe has her sights set on one of the most iconic roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – X-Men‘s Storm.
In a new interview with Empire, the star recalled bumping into Black Panther director Ryan Coogler while working on her latest album Dirty Computer in Atlanta.
When asked whether she’d spoken to Coogler about the possibility of joining the upcoming Black Panther sequel, Monáe gave strength to internet rumours linking her with the role of Storm.
“I definitely have thrown it out there,” she said. “One of my dreams has always been to play Storm. I don’t know if she comes in Black Panther, but it would be a dream to have her in it. I don’t know where they are with that.
“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.”
Storm was previously played by Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp, but as the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters Phase 4 it’s likely we’ll be seeing a new face in the familiar role.
But Janelle Monáe may have competition – last month fans launched a petition to have trans Pose star Dominique Jackson cast as Storm in the next mutant movie.
Dominque Jackson could be a challenger for the role of Storm (Change.org)
The petition, which has garnered more than 18,500 signatures, says: “With the recent merger between 20th Century Fox and Disney, the X-Men franchise could be rebooted with new faces that correct Hollywood’s history of racism and transphobia by giving a chance to Black trans actors.”
It cites Jackson’s life story, activism and acting career as reasons that she would be perfect for the role. “If there’s anyone that could fill Storm’s cape it would be Ms Jackson,” it says.
Dominique Jackson said she was thrilled by the petition as she’d “always looked to Storm as representation of my true self,” but gave no suggestion that Marvel had reached out to her.
Either way, the prospect of a queer Black woman being cast in such an iconic role would be a huge win for diversity in the franchise.
