In the first installment of this two-part interview with The Blast, Mumbi Maina reflected on how “Sense8” and “The Matrix Resurrections” changed the trajectory of her life.
In this follow-up, Mumbi reveals the Marvel character she would love to play someday and explains why the role feels particularly close to home. She also turns her attention to African cinema, sharing what excites her about its next chapter.
When Mumbi Maina thinks about her ultimate dream role, one Marvel icon immediately rises above the rest. “Storm is the first role that comes to mind. 100%,” Mumbi told The Blast, adding a little cheekily, “She’s also half Kenyan, so it would be quite fitting, no?”
The attraction, however, goes well beyond their shared national heritage or Storm’s superhuman abilities. The actress describes herself as a versatile performer who gravitates toward strong, complicated characters that allow her to explore different sides of human psychology.
Storm, also known as Ororo Munroe, is one of the X-Men’s most powerful mutants, with the ability to manipulate weather and atmospheric forces.
The Character Has Deep Roots In Africa
There is plenty beneath the surface of the superhero Mumbi would love to play one day. According to Marvel, Storm was born in Harlem to Kenyan princess N’Dare and American photographer David Munroe before her family relocated to Cairo.
After losing her parents as a child, Ororo Munroe eventually journeyed toward her ancestral homeland in Africa. Her sprawling comic history has since seen her become an X-Men leader, a mentor, and even Queen of Wakanda through her marriage to T’Challa.
“Storm is such an iconic character, and there’s so much depth to her beyond her abilities,” Mumbi said of the part made most famous by Halle Berry. She told us she would relish the chance to dig into the superhero’s different dimensions, including “her strength, her vulnerability, her power and her humanity.”
For now, though, the role has entered a new chapter with Maya Boyd, whom Marvel announced as its next Storm at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Boyd is expected to debut as Ororo in the studio’s upcoming “X-Men” movie, currently slated for 2028.
Inside Mumbi Maina’s Rise Through African Film And Television
Long before Hollywood came calling, Mumbi had already been steadily building a résumé across African film and television. She entered the industry in 2009 as Riziki in “Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten,” a film centered on HIV/AIDS awareness.
Her profile grew further when she joined the drama series “Mali,” a role that put her in front of a much wider television audience.
From there, her credits expanded across genres and markets. She appeared in major productions, including the 2020 Netflix thriller “40 Sticks.” Mumbi also took on the role of Thabisa in the Nigerian film “La Femme Anjola.”
That breadth of experience has given Mumbi a front-row view of how African film has evolved across different territories. In our conversation, she described the industry as being in a period of reinvention and said she sees opportunity in the disruption.
Mumbi Wants African Filmmakers To Put African Audiences First
Speaking to The Blast, Mumbi said shifts in the streaming landscape have forced African film to “hit something of a reset button.”
She views this moment as difficult, but potentially freeing. “It’s challenging, but I also see it as a wonderful opportunity for a clean slate,” she said.
For Mumbi, that means figuring out “what actually works” for the region instead of trying to fit African storytelling into Western molds. “We get to redefine what draws in our audiences and determine what success looks like on our own terms,” she explained.
Part of that reset, she believes, must involve greater confidence in telling distinctly African stories. “We still need to evolve in writing stories that are fully ‘us,’” Mumbi said, stressing that the goal does not always have to be reaching a global audience. “I think we sometimes underestimate the value of telling stories for our own audiences first.”
Mumbi Maina Calls For Better Actor Welfare And Stronger Marketing
Mumbi also believes that executives need a stronger appreciation of what actors contribute beyond visibility or social-media numbers. “An actor brings craft, interpretation, audience connection and an enormous amount of creative value to a production,” she said.
Mumbi argued that artists’ wellbeing deserves equal attention, particularly “how we work, how we process, and how our welfare is considered and protected.”
Marketing remains another concern. “We have incredible stories and incredible talent,” she said, “but audiences need to know that the work exists and be given a reason to engage with it.” Still, Mumbi is enthusiastic about what could come next. “I think we have an opportunity to become much more intentional about what African cinema looks like, what it sounds like, who it is for, and ultimately what success means to us.”
