Deadpool 3 is a movie shrouded in secrecy, but also one which has been the source of many rumours lately. It's no secret that Emma Corrin has been cast in the movie, of course, and we recently learned the actor is likely playing Cassandra Nova.
If you're not a hardcore comic book fan, chances are she's not a character you'll be overly familiar with. However, make no mistake about it, her live-action debut promises to be a very big deal, particularly if rumblings we're returning to Earth-838 are correct.
In this feature, we've rounded up every major detail you need to know about Professor X's evil twin, including her origin story, biggest comic book moments, and what she might be up to in Deadpool 3.
To take a look through this breakdown, simply click on the "Next" button below!
5. She's Professor X's Twin Sister
Well, sort of. In the comics, Cassandra Nova was a "Mummudrai," a spirit that's considered the equal and opposite of a person in Shi'ar culture. However, given Charles Xavier's incredibly powerful latent mutant powers, his Mummudrai took on a physical form in the womb as his "twin."
The baby Charles instinctively recognised her as a threat and the ensuing battle saw his and Cassandra's mother miscarry the X-Men leader's sister.
It was later revealed she'd survived as a mass of cells in a sewer wall (seriously), managing to build a body for herself while planning the ultimate revenge on Charles. If it all sounds pretty weird, it's because it was, and we'd guess this origin story will be largely skimmed over in Deadpool 3.
4. She Committed Genocide And Stole Charles Xavier's Body
Now free, Cassandra embarked on a mission of revenge and murdered over 16 million mutants by unleashing a number of giant Sentinels on the nation of Genosha.
The X-Men believed they'd defeated her, but the villain stole Charles' body and decided to wreak havoc on his life. That included outing the X-Men to the world, taking down the Shi'ar Empire from within and even attempting to kill every mutant in existence through Cerebro.
When all was said and done, the team put Nova down. However, after Earth-838's Professor X was killed by the Scarlet Witch, we can't help but wonder whether it was that moment which freed the MCU's Cassandra...
3. She's Seriously Powerful
In case it's not already obvious, Cassandra Nova is every bit as powerful as Professor X, if not more so. Her telepathic powers are equivalent to Charles Xavier's and are perhaps even stronger in some respects.
As a hero, the leader of the X-Men obviously chooses how he uses his abilities wisely. However, Cassandra has no such qualms about unleashing them and once came close to destroying the team from within. She hates her brother and the X-Men but is a threat to mutants as a whole.
We're not sure what makes Wolverine and Deadpool the right duo to take her down, but the fact they can heal from any injury likely means they're the only ones who can take Cassandra on and live to fight another day.
2. She Has A History Of Time-Travel...Sort Of
From what we can gather about Deadpool 3, Deadpool and Wolverine are pruned by the TVA before later being sent on a mission which they presumably hope with free them from The Void (we're betting they end up stranded on Earth-616).
In regards to why Cassandra Nova has been chosen to serve as this threequel's big bad, it may be partly because she has ties to time travel.
A recent story saw her travelling into the distant past alongside the Marauders where the villain was left stranded after Kate Pryde took her revenge for Cassandra's role in her father's death in Genosha. Will Logan and the Merc with the Mouth encounter her within The Void?
1. What's Her Role In Deadpool 3?
This is the million-dollar question right now. It's been widely reported that Deadpool 3 will take us back to Earth-838, a reality we know might not have been as harmonious as it seems on the surface between The Illuminati's actions and the fact everyone living there looked like drones.
Whether Cassandra Nova was part of that or has been freed as a result of her brother's death remains to be seen, but either possibility has real potential (as does her being inadvertently freed from The Void by Deadpool and Wolverine).
We're definitely expecting some changes from the source material and could see Cassandra being someone the TVA simply needs to stop, particularly if she plans on waging war across the Multiverse. Whatever the case may be, we expect big things from her MCU debut.