Alternate dystopian futures are easy to accept over the course of several years of comic book mythmaking, but in a single feature film, the new setting and the many new chartacters made “The Last Stand” feel busy. Storm, as a result, played only a small part in the story again … just like every other character. There just wasn’t a lot of time in the 104-minute movie to give everyone space.
Berry, however, seems to have been ultimately satisfied, as she had only agreed to appear in the film if the studio gave her a more significant role. She was quoted as saying:
“I have not read the script. All I asked is that, if I come back, Storm needs more to do. If they have, in fact, written her closer to the comic book, then I’m in. If not, then I’m out. I hope I’m in though. I love Storm and really want to be a part of the last film.”
As mentioned, she did end the film as the leader of the X-Men and the headmistress of the franchise’s central superhero academy. That might have been enough.
But it wasn’t. It was later revealed, however, that the script Berry agreed to was an infamous “bait” script. The studio provided the actress with a script that gave Storm a great deal to do with no intention of actually putting that particular draft into production. Berry arrived on set and they handed her the earlier version of “The Last Stand” that she hadn’t agreed to. Having already signed her contract, however, Berry was trapped. The studio’s hoodwinking ultimately drove the film’s original director, Matthew Vaughn, to quit. Brett Ratner took over, and the rest is history.
Definitely of note: everyone hated “X-Men: The Last Stand.”