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Deadpool & Wolverine has seemingly revealed its antagonist with a brief shot of alleged antagonist Cassandra Nova. Fans and rumor-mongers proclaimed her the film’s mystery antagonist behind Emma Corrin’s casting several months ago. Marvel still hasn’t confirmed Nova, but the slow, dramatic pan over a bald figure was enough evidence for most fans. Her presence remains questionable, but Nova is a nightmarish figure. If played right, she could be the most intimidating, threatening, and haunting villain in Marvel’s catalog.
Deadpool & Wolverine Have Very Different Villains
The villains from the last two Deadpool films aren’t especially impressive. He often has this problem in the comics. Wade Wilson becomes the focus of any project he’s in, regardless of who he’s up against. The first film used Francis “Ajax” Freeman, a critical part of Deadpool’s origin story. Though he fits the narrative, he’s dreadfully dull. Deadpool 2 raised the stakes by bringing Cable in as an enemy-turned-ally. Cable isn’t the villain of the film. Instead, the film tells the story of Russell Collins and the monsters who abuse him. The overarching antagonist is Eddie Marsan’s unnamed Headmaster. Deadpool & Wolverine will escalate everything, especially the villains. We’ll likely see several antagonists in the latest entry. Cassandra Nova will probably only be part of the larger Deadpool 3 narrative. Nova fits in better with the Wolverine half of the new title.
The X-Men films feature some compelling antagonists. I’ll stand firm in proclaiming Magneto one of the best supervillains in comic book history, though he’s not always the bad guy. Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender brought him to life with excellent, varied creative choices. X2, the best of the original trilogy, introduced Bryan Cox as William Stryker. Stryker was the first of several genocidal maniacs representing the broken systems of oppression that make mutant lives miserable. The metaphorical weight of X-Men villains helps them stand out. The best comic book supervillains stand for something, and that paradigm continues in the films. Ajax represents nearly nothing, but the Headmaster fits comfortably next to Stryker. Cassandra Nova could finally provide Deadpool with a villain worth fighting. Deadpool is the most comedic hero in the MCU roster, so matching him against its new scariest antagonist adds up.
Cassandra Nova Will Threaten the MCU
Those who saw Deadpool in theaters likely remember confused parents quickly shepherding their kids out of the room shortly after the opening scene. The gag of “a superhero movie with sex, violence, and middle school humor” is ancient but still lands. Deadpool 2 sharpened its edge, adding genuine mature themes alongside its crass commentary. Cassandra Nova Xavier is Charles Xavier’s evil twin. She’s prepared to escalate again, potentially pushing into outright horror. Nova commits genocide against mutantkind in her first comic book appearance. She could be a threat on Thanos’ level, wielding Charles Xavier’s powers and altering her DNA to achieve unthinkable feats. Power scaling is not a concern in Deadpool. Scale, however, recently became its favorite gag. The TVA kicks in Wade Wilson’s door and tells him he has to mock the multiverse. Wolverine is the draw, but a story of that size needs a matching menace.
Cassandra Nova is a fascinating choice for Deadpool & Wolverine‘s villain. She’s deeply obscure. Ask a fan to name 10 X-Men antagonists, and very few will bring up Nova. Deadpool was once obscure, but his effervescent personality and die-hard fanbase dragged him to the upper echelon. He has no connection to Cassandra Nova. She does, however, occupy a strange place in the franchise. Deadpool has regularly complained that his films lack X-Men cameos aside from the two mutants that are part of his entourage. Deadpool & Wolverine is named after its chief marketing angle, finally convincing Hugh Jackman to don the classic costume. X-Men cameos cover the film like strategically placed land mines. All this is in the film that unites the 20th Century Fox cast with the MCU. It seems fitting that the villain would be a minor name seeking to wipe out those figures.
Cassandra Nova steps into Deadpool & Wolverine with a lot on her shoulders but a significant opportunity. The third Deadpool entry represents a sea change for the franchise and the MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine defines itself on several occasions by its newfound place in the world’s biggest pop-cultural brand. They’re thrilled to crack jokes at the expense of Disney’s PG-13 mandate and deliver violence beyond the bounds of any previous outing. Cassandra Nova could subvert expectations by applying the same line-crossing mentality to that which was precious. Let her kill half the 20th Century Fox cast, eliminating those who aren’t coming back. Disney likely doesn’t have the guts to pull that off, but the right framing can still make Cassandra Nova Deadpool & Wolverine‘s answer to Thanos.
