Deadpool & Wolverine is simply the biggest movie of 2024 and one of the most important movies for Marvel Studios since Avengers: Endgame. It’s also a unique crossroads for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in that it features two of the most popular characters in all of Marvel who also happen to be characters ported over from the Fox universe of Marvel films.
With the Disney acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios finally gained control of the X-Men family of characters, and Deadpool and Wolverine are among the crown jewels of that roster.
Another new addition to the MCU, thanks to the Fox deal, is Cassandra Nova, played by Emma Corrin. While Nova may not be quite as well known as the two title characters, her comic book history is fascinating, considering she is the twin sister of Professor Charles Xavier, aka Professor X.
Corrin, who won a Golden Globe award for their performance as Princess Diana in Netflix’s hit series, The Crown, brings a fresh perspective to the role of a villain in the MCU. I had the opportunity to speak with Corrin about how director Shawn Levy pitched them on the role, how they prepared to play the villain of the film and what Ryan Reynolds is really like behind-the-scenes.
Describing Levy as an excellent salesman, Corrin explained that he pitched a story that is about friendship and has depth in the relationships within the film.
“Obviously yeah, being Marvel, he couldn’t really give me a script or anything, and there was only a certain amount of detail he could go into. But yeah, I think the thing that really hooked me, it was two things really because I’d watched the Deadpool films before, I’d loved them you know, so subversive, so clever, really defining their own genre in a way. And what’s different with this film I think is, it also has a lot of heart,” Corrin said. “It’s ultimately a story about friendship, as well as all that other Deadpool stuff that we know and love, and [it] has a lot of soul. And he really pitched that to me and I really connected to that. Those are stories that I’m really interested in being a part of telling.”
As for the particular character that Levy wanted Corrin to play, he emphasized that Nova may be a villain, but is one who as unpredictable and expectedly likable.
“In terms of Cassandra, I think it was that they didn’t want to have a predictable villain in this film. They wanted someone who was, yes cutting and evil and honors the comics in that way, because Cassandra is such an Omega level mutant and capable of so much evil, but they wanted her to be kind of unknowable and quite elusive. And also very charismatic and charming and sort of really tread that line. And that was something I was really interested in playing,” Corrin said.
The fact that Nova is related to an iconic character like Professor X, who not only has an extensive comics history, but has also been portrayed by incredibly talented actors like Sir Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy, adds an intriguing layer to her portrayal in this film. Corrin said that she had gone back to watch both of their respective performances in preparation for this role.
“I was really interested in how, when a character’s powers are so telepathic and internal, how that’s portrayed on screen. Because I feel like we’re so used to villains, and in their case I guess sort of heroes, wearing their powers outwardly. Even like in the case of Deadpool and Wolverine, they perform them so physically. And I really felt like there was a lot to master, and quite a lot of possibility and potential, in how you can portray someone whose mind is so rich and powerful, so yeah that was the main thing that I looked at [Stewart’s and McAvoy’s performances] for,” Corrin said.
Watch our full conversation in the video.
Deadpool & Wolverine premieres July 26th in theaters.
About Deadpool & Wolverine:
Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date—”Deadpool & Wolverine.” Alistless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existenFal threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to—Fuck. Synopses are so fucking stupid.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
