X-Men’s Alexandra Shipp in talks to join Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft

Although she may not be bringing her weather-based powers along with her, Deadline reports that Alexandra Shipp, who played Storm in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, is in final negotiations to join the cast of SHAFT, a continuation of the blaxploitation franchise which began in 1971.

The new SHAFT film will star Jessie T. Usher as John Shaft. Jr, the son of Samuel L. Jackson's character from John Singleton's 2000 film, and, according to Deadline, the film will find Shaft Jr. working for the FBI and determined to be nothing like his estranged father, but he's forced to reluctantly enlist his father's help in order to find out who killed his best friend Karim and bring down a drug-trafficking/money-laundering operation in New York City. Alexandra Shipp will play Usher's love interest and the female lead of the film. Described as "old school meets new school," the upcoming film which is to be directed by Tim Story also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree (who played the original Shaft) and production is expected to begin in December.

Alexandra Shipp will reprise the role of Storm in X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX which is set for a November 2, 2018 release.