Halle Berry Calls Out 'Shady' Tactic Used to Mislead Her Into Joining ‘X-Men’

Halle Berry recently addressed claims made by director Matthew Vaughn, revealing alleged deceptive tactics used to persuade her into joining the 2006 ‘X-Men’ sequel. 

In an Instagram post, she acknowledged the situation, thanking Vaughn for shedding light on the matter, stating, "Ya just never know the shady s— going on behind ya back! Thank you Matthew Vaughn for bringing the dark to light 🕯️."

Image Courtesy: People

Vaughn, during a panel discussion, explained that he quit as director of the ‘X-Men’ sequel after discovering the alleged strategy used by 20th Century Fox to manipulate Berry. He recalled finding a different version of the script focused more on Berry’s character, Storm, and realising it was a fake draft designed to get her to sign on.

Vaughn claimed he was shocked by the studio's approach, stating, "I was like, ‘Wow, you’re going to do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm? I’m out of here.’" This led him to step down from the project.

Despite this, Berry eventually reprised her role as Storm in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’, continuing her iconic portrayal from the original adaptation up until the 2014 films. Vaughn, though he didn’t direct ‘The Last Stand’, later returned to the franchise to helm ‘X-Men: First Class’.

Berry’s post has sparked further discussion about the behind-the-scenes tactics often employed in Hollywood, with her fans and industry insiders expressing support for her stance. Vaughn's revelations highlight the political nature of the film industry and the lengths studios might go to secure big-name talent.

-Sushmita Sarkar