We all know Deadpool 3, officially titled Deadpool & Wolverine, is going to be something special. The merc with the mouth is finally entering the MCU, and he’s apparently dragging the entire X-Men universe with him. Sure, we already saw Professor X appearing as part of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but he was murdered by Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. So, it’s pretty safe to assume that Deadpool & Wolverine might be the one to finally introduce the X-Men to the largest cinematic universe ever.
The film’s trailer dropped during the Super Bowl, and while it was really interesting seeing Hugh Jackman in a comic-book-style Wolverine costume and his and Wade’s implied relationship dynamic, the trailer also pointed to the film’s villain being Cassandra Nova, portrayed by actor Emma Corrin. Now, while Cassandra’s name isn’t known to many, the fans of the X-Men comics are most certainly familiar with the character and her unrelenting hate towards the X-Men, making her the perfect main villain for the upcoming movie.
For those who aren’t aware of Cassandra Nova, allow us to introduce you to one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men universe. Compared to the rest of the X-Men, Cassandra Nova is a relatively new character in the franchise since she first appeared in New X-Men #144 in 2001. Cassandra is a so-called Mummudrai — an Anti-Self — a being born without a body in the Astral Plane. She’s the exact equal and opposite of Professor X, who’s one of the most iconic and powerful characters, not just in X-Men but in the Marvel Universe as well.
And yes, Cassandra is Professor X’s twin. Her power is so great and terrible that Charles recognized her evil presence, and his latent physic abilities lashed out to kill her while they were in their mother’s womb. This caused a miscarriage, and Cassandra was never born. However, she survived as a growing mass of cells in a sewer wall, where she meticulously crafted a new body while plotting vengeance against her brother. In fact, her hatred towards Professor Charles Xavier led to her long career as an X-Men villain, with her sole goal being to kill her brother and other mutant-kind.
The most interesting part about Cassandra being the polar opposite of her brother is the fact that she’s also a bit more powerful. On top of sharing Xavier’s telepathic powers, Cassandra also possesses some regeneration abilities, phasing, and limited telekinesis powers. She also has the ability to jumpstart and evolve the existing genetic traits of latent mutants or enhance their powers — just like the mutant known as Apocalypse.
Cassandra was eventually subdued in the comics after being shot by Xavier but not before committing genocidal acts against Genosha (the aftermath of which can be seen in the Deadpool video game). She eventually returns and proves that she is the ultimate evil mastermind. She is ultimately defeated by Jean Gray, who forces Cassandra to feel empathy, which fills Xavier’s twin with regret over her actions. Not shortly after, she is stranded 2 billion years in the past by the Marauders.
Still, her menacing nature and animosity towards her brother make her a perfect villain for the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. Furthermore, her upcoming appearance also hints at Patrick Stewart’s potential return to the MCU, along with all other X-Men. Deadpool & Wolverine is shaping up to become one of the greatest movies of 2024, especially with Deadpool entering the MCU and Hugh Jackman reprising Wolverine — the actor previously retired from the character following the conclusion of Logan.
From what we know about the movie’s plot thus far, the Time Variance Authority pulled Deadpool from his quiet life and sent him on a mission that’s supposed to change the history of the MCU. The movie boasts an impressive lineup of returning characters, including Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, alongside new additions like Matthew MacFadyen as Paradox and Peggy as Dogpool. Emma Corrin’s character, identified as Cassandra Nova through official paperwork, is particularly intriguing for all the reasons we previously mentioned.
No other major villains have been associated with the movie, which means that Cassandra might be the main threat. It’s really hard to say just how much comic-book cannon will come into play for Deadpool & Wolverine, especially the gruesome bits like Xavier killing his own twin in their mother’s womb or her growing as a mass of tissue inside the sewers. However, having Cassandra as the main villain does open up a few interesting storylines, which could be introduced to the MCU through Deadpool’s usual shenanigans while on a mission to fiddle with time and become Marvel Jesus.
It would seem that the upcoming movie is shaping up to be a redemption arc for Marvel — provided that it’s done right. Given the company’s recent trend of sub-par releases, they could most certainly use a hit. To quote fans of another greater franchise, James Bond, a movie “is only as good as its villain.” And Cassandra Nova is most definitely an interesting villain.