Beau DeMayo, the former showrunner of X-Men ’97, claims that Allison Sealy Smith, who originally voiced Storm in X-Men: The Animated Series, was replaced in the reboot because her voice didn’t sound “African” enough. DeMayo, who was later fired from the project, says this change is part of a broader pattern of racism and unethical behavior at Marvel Studios.
He believes he was let go as retaliation for speaking out about these issues. However, Marvel Studios states that his firing was due to sexual misconduct.
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The conflicting accounts create confusion. While DeMayo argues that his experience shows systemic problems, Marvel offers a different story, which raises questions about his credibility. Details about the alleged misconduct remain mostly unknown, making it hard to assess the truth of his claims.
Despite the initial replacement, Allison Sealy Smith eventually returned to voice Storm in X-Men ’97. DeMayo mentions that another actress was briefly considered for the role and even appeared in a making-of documentary. Smith’s reinstatement suggests that Marvel changed its mind about the casting, but the reasons for this shift are unclear and not publicly explained.
Storm’s casting has been a hot topic among fans and industry insiders. Previous choices for live-action versions of the character have drawn criticism regarding how Storm’s African heritage is depicted. Actress Alexandra Shipp, who portrayed Storm in Dark Phoenix, has expressed her desire to see a darker-skinned actress take on the role in future MCU films. These past discussions highlight the sensitivity around how the character is portrayed and relates to DeMayo’s allegations.
The director and producer Jake Castorena shared a different view on the casting for X-Men ’97. He stressed the importance of bringing back the original cast whenever possible and acknowledged the challenges, like some actors being unavailable. He mentioned that efforts were made to involve those who could return and offer them other roles in the project. This aligns with Smith’s eventual return but doesn’t clarify why she was replaced in the first place.
The differing stories about casting Storm in X-Men ’97 create a complicated situation. The lack of clear evidence and opposing accounts makes it tough to fully understand the reasons behind the casting decisions. This issue also highlights the ongoing conversation about representation in media and the possibility that unconscious bias may influence creative choices. How DeMayo’s allegations will impact Marvel’s future projects and reputation is still uncertain.
Keep in mind that DeMayo says a lot and, at this point, has shown how untrustworthy he can be with his claims. Take anything he says with a grain of salt as if he were another leaker.
Source: DeMayo/X
