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Halle Berry has opened up about the “shady shit” going on behind her back after discovering she was tricked into reprising her role as Storm X-Men: The Last Stand.

The 2006 film, directed by Brett Ratner, was the finale to the original X-Men film trilogy that followed on from the 2000s X Men and 2003 X2. Berry had played the weather-controlling mutant in the first two films.

In 2023, Matthew Vaughn, who was originally slated to direct the film, said that he abandoned the project because he discovered distributor 20th Century Fox allegedly recruiting Berry for the sequel.

According to the director, whose other credits include Kick ass and the Kingsman films, Berry was allegedly tricked into appearing X-Men: The Last Stand Using a fake script that prioritized her character in the opening scene.

Speaking at New York Comic-Con, Vaughn told the audience: “This is a true story and I don’t care if I don’t tell it. Hollywood is really political and weird. I went to an executive's office and saw one X3 Script. It was much thicker. I asked, “What kind of design is this?” They said, “Don’t worry.”

“So I grabbed it, opened the first page and it said 'Africa.' “Kids are dying because they don't have water, and Storm creates a thunderstorm to save all those kids. I thought it was a pretty cool idea.”

Vaughn continued, “I said, 'What is that?' They said, “This is Halle Berry's script because she hasn't signed yet.” That's how she wants it. And as soon as she signs up, we throw it in the trash.”

“I thought, 'If you're going to do this to an Oscar-winning actress playing Storm, I'll stop.'”

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Although Berry starred in the film, she seemed unaware of the tactics used to get her to star in it.

After learning of Vaughn's claims, the John Wick actor shared a TikTok about the revelation on October 5, adding, “You just never know what kind of shady shit is going on behind your back!” Thank you, Matthew Vaughn for bringing the darkness to light.”

Vaughn continued to direct Stardust instead of X-Men: The Last Standbut directed X-Men: First Class in 2011.

Berry returned as Storm X-Men: Days of Future Pastwhich Bryan Singer directed in 2014.