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With Captain America and Tony Stark no longer contributing to the soiree of supers we have come to identify as The Avengers, it’s only a matter of time until a new team of heroes seizes the spotlight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). 

Black Panther MCU
Chadwick Boseman at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther’ | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Considering She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and Hawkeye will all work to introduce new characters to the landscape via Disney+, some of the new saviors set to take center stage are already presumable. Yet, Kevin Feige and Co. will not make every newcomer obvious. And, Black Panther 2 may have a narrative in store destined to introduce another Young Avenger via a mutant-Avenger romantic fling. In short, famous mutant Storm may be bringing quite the shake-up to the existing landscape. 

Insider reports suggest that Ororo Munroe (Storm) will be one of the first X-Men to appear in the MCU

According to Marvel and DC Insider Mikey Sutton, Marvel Studios is looking to bring Storm into the MCU via Black Panther 2; to those of you unfamiliar with the comics, the two go on to boast quite the romantic arc — they even tie the knot via a wedding ceremony. 

Janelle Monáe is reportedly in the running for the role, and at the top of the studio’s wishlist. Storm could be a gateway to the rest of the X-Men, as she has also served as the headmaster of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and later the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. Meaning, the MCU could open the X-Men narrative at a later point in time than previous Fox iterations, making way for a romance between T’Challa and Ororo, as well as the children who follow suit…

Will Storm and Black Panther’s son Azari join the MCU, becoming a Young Avenger? 

Storm and Black Panther have several children in multiple timelines in the MCU; and, considering the Multiverse of Madness will open the doorway to several parallel universes and diverse timelines, one or more of their children could easily make an appearance in the landscape. Yet, one of their most well-known kids is Azari, who boasts powers from both of his parents. 

Azari is Storm and Black Panther’s son, and he inherited both of their powers. Meaning, he has the abilities of the heart-shaped herb from his father — enhanced speed, agility, strength, endurance, healing, and heightened senses — and one of his mother’s powers — electrokinesis. Like Storm, he can use psychic power to manipulate energies. Most notably, he can mentally manipulate electric currents, generating electricity with his mind. 

The MCU will have to tinker with the comic book timeline — something it has been known to do — because Azari’s existence overlaps with Ultron’s, whose days as a villain remain in the past. Yet, with Storm coming, it’s easy to conceive of a universe where a mutant-avenger comes to fight alongside Mr. Marvel, Spidey, and more. The Young Avengers could feature young mutants at the forefront, following their parents’ delayed and one-at-a-time entry, creating a logical foundation for multiple X-men in the landscape across time.