Summary
- Director Jake Castorena quashes rumors of Cassandra Nova as
X-Men ’97
villain in recent interview with Inverse. - Despite Nova not appearing, director Emi Yonemura praises her influence and complexity in X-Men lore.
- Actress Emma Corrin rumored to play Cassandra Nova in
Deadpool & Wolverine
, adding new dynamic to MCU.
X-Men ’97 director and producer, Jake Castorena, has quickly put to rest one of the most hotly discussed theories about the potential villains in the series.
The latest episode, “Remember It,” ignited a flurry of speculation over the future direction of the series. Despite widespread belief that Cassandra Nova, the formidable adversary from Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly’s 2001 “New X-Men #114,” would make her entrance as the season’s primary antagonist, Castorena has confirmed that this will not be the case.
X-Men ’97
4.5/5
- Release Date
- March 20, 2024
- Cast
- Jennifer Hale , Chris Potter , Ray Chase , George Buza , Catherine Disher , JP Karliak
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Marvel Studios
- Franchise
- Marvel
In a recent interview with Inverse, Castorena addressed the speculation head-on. “I wouldn’t get my hopes up for Cassandra Nova being a huge villain in our show,” he stated, dampening the expectations of many fans. However, he added a note of optimism, suggesting that viewers will not be let down by the narrative choices the team has made: “But what I will say is, I don’t think people will be disappointed with our choices.”
Cassandra Nova, the malevolent twin sister of Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, has added complexity to the X-Men narrative, challenging Xavier like few others. While she won’t be wreaking havoc in X-Men ’97 this season, her spirit remains influential. Emi Yonemura, another director of the show, expressed her admiration for Nova, saying:
“I love her because she is a challenge for Xavier. I really love the tensions that she brings, the whole other level that she brings. I love her character design as well. I cannot say where we go, but I think what’s so nice about using the original series and the comics for where we start [is that it] gives us so many options with so many rich characters like Cassandra to get to play with.”
Deadpool & Wolverine May Introduce Cassandra Nova with Emma Corrin in a Key Role
While this formidable character will not make an appearance in the animated series X-Men ’97, there are rumors that Emma Corrin, celebrated for her role in The Crown, might portray the enigmatic sister of Charles Xavier in the latest installment of the Deadpool franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine.
The film boasts an impressive lineup, including Ryan Reynolds returning as the irreverent mercenary Deadpool, Hugh Jackman reprising his iconic role as Wolverine, and a supporting cast featuring Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Stefan Kapičić, and Matthew Macfadyen. The ensemble is expected to deliver a mix of humor, action, and drama, similar with the series’ previous successes.
Why Marvel Revived the X-Men Animated Series Before Spider-Man
X-Men & Spider-Man: The Animated Series was very popular with kids of the ’90s, but silly studio politics made it easier to bring the X-Men back.
Director Shawn Levy discussed the intense scrutiny that accompanies any project within the MCU on Happy Sad Confused podcast. He said:
“I’m so wary of giving anything away because I’ve learned the hard way that even with a few titles – like any Marvel title – everything and anything you say can lead to not only rumors but misinformation. I’ll just say this: It’s very much part of the MCU, what a privilege, what a wealth of resources and knowledge.”
The potential addition of Corrin as Cassandra Nova could add a new dynamic to the MCU, particularly given the character’s complex background and psychic powers.
