Halle Berry in 'X-Men' (Photo: Everett Collection)
It looks like another mutant alum is heading back to Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters.
Director Bryan Singer has been gathering quite the ensemble cast for what sounds like the be-all, end-all "X-Men" movie, "X-Men: Days of Future Past." The roster is made up of brand-new recruits as well as several returning franchise players, though one in the latter camp that's been noticeably missing until now is Halle Berry, who played the weather-controlling Ororo Munroe/Storm in the first three "X" movies.
Last month, Singer revealed in an interview with MTV that he wasn't sure if Berry was going to be a part of the mega mutant reunion.
"I can't say. I don't know yet. And it's not necessarily a deal making aspect at all," Singer said. "I want to make sure it'll make sense. But I love working with her."
Now, it looks like Storm's involvement "makes sense" after all, as Berry herself has revealed in a recent interview with BlackTree TV that Storm is definitely making a return appearance in "Days of Future Past."
"Yeah ... yeah ... yeah," confirmed Berry somewhat hesitantly, as if wondering whether she's allowed to make her involvement public knowledge just yet. "I'm excited, too. The fans really love Storm and I'm happy that it's worked out that way."
Storm was somewhat shortchanged in both "X-Men" (2000) and "X2" (2003), not really coming into her own and taking center stage until the Brett Ratner-directed "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006). But no matter how much or how little Storm contributes to the story in "Days of Future Past," she's just happy to be making it rain again.
"No matter what my part will be or won't be ... to be a part of that is always a good thing," said Berry. "I love it."
When we last saw Storm, she was made headmistress of Xavier's School, though whether the new film will be following through on that storyline remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Singer is busy bringing new faces into the "X-Men" fold as well, with the latest new cast member being "The Intouchables" star Omar Sy. Singer announced Sy's casting via Twitter, which seems to be his go-to method of choice for sharing all things "X-Men"-related:
Thrilled to welcome the brilliant #OmarSy from the amazing film #TheIntouchables to the cast of #Xmen #DaysofFuturePast!
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) March 2, 2013
There's no word on what character Omar Sy will be playing, though we have a feeling it's going to be a mutant ... just because he'd be awesome at playing one. Our guess would be he's Bishop, a member of Xavier's School Enforcers, a mutant police force from the dystopian future of the Marvel Universe.
And guesses are all we have for now, as while Singer is being very open about casting, he's being highly secretive about everything else involving the film -- especially any and all plot details.
"I don't want to say [who the protagonists are] yet, or talk about that yet, but I will say that every character has a very important function in the story," Singer said in his interview with MTV. "The story is designed and catered to the combined cast. It's not just throwing in people to occupy the screen, occupy the billboards. The story 'Days of Future Past' and our version of 'Days of Future Past' is geared very much toward the mass cast and all their relationships and all their foibles and their achievements."
The original comic book story of "Days of Future Past" was told in "The Uncanny X-Men" issues #141 and #142, published in 1981. The grim yet extremely popular tale takes place in a dystopian alternative future in which mutants are incarcerated in internment camps. A grown-up Kitty Pryde transfers her consciousness to her younger self, who rallies the X-Men to prevent a moment in history that triggers anti-mutant hysteria.
The cast of "X-Men: Days of Future Past" includes the "First Class" lineup of Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence as well as original cast members Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Ellen Page and Anna Paquin. New cast members include "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage.
The film is set to hit theaters on July 18, 2014.