Since Disney acquired Fox in 2019, Marvel fans have been eagerly anticipating the MCU debut of the X-Men. While Marvel has teased audiences with Evan Peters' WandaVision cameo and even an X-Men location in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks to be the MCU's "let there be mutants" moment given Patrick Stewart's role as Professor Xavier in the upcoming film.
But still, how Marvel Studios intends to handle mutants after Doctor Strange 2 is a mystery; and since there's no dedicated X-Men project currently on the slate - apart from the animated X-Men 97 Disney+ series - audiences are expecting more mutant cameos to come as the MCU dives deeper into its Phase 4 story.
One cameo fans have been expecting is that of the weather-wielding X-Men heroine, Storm. Since the God of Thunder is poised to return in July in Thor: Love and Thunder, not only did a Storm cameo make sense, but reliable sources heard such rumors themselves.
But now, it appears the winds have changed as the forecast no longer shows X-Men's Storm on the horizon for Thor: Love and Thunder.
Storm's Rumored Thor 4 Cameo Debunked
In early 2021, insider Daniel Richtman shared a rumor that Marvel Studios was planning to include X-Men's Storm in Chris Hemsworth's July film, Thor: Love and Thunder.
Months later, and as fans eagerly await the film's debut trailer, that particular rumor has resurfaced, leading Richtman to debunk the claim in a Tweet that reads as follows:
"No. Mentioned it as a rumor I heard a year ago and since then I made it clear it's not true."
While Storm won't be joining Thor in his next film, Natalie Portman's Jane Foster has returned to the cast as the Mighty Thor. In addition, Christian Bale is set to make his MCU debut as Gorr the God Butcher.
No Storm Warning for Thor 4?
Even though it doesn't sound like Storm will be making her MCU debut in Thor 4, mutants are still coming to the MCU; and it's possible that audiences will eventually see her interact with the God of Thunder at some point in the future.
While it appears Marvel is taking its time incorporating mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's important to note that the studio plans its projects years in advance and already had a full roster of heroes to explore when Disney acquired Fox in 2019.
The good news is that Marvel loves a good payoff; and its MCU Disney+ series - and now Doctor Strange 2 - wouldn't be including X-Men characters and references if there wasn't a plan for that popular property down the line.
Hopefully, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will offer audiences an idea of what's to come concerning mutants; and given Marvel Studios' packed 2022 and 2023 slate, there are plenty of other projects in the works where the X-Men could play a role.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to release in theaters on July 8.
