Cassandra Nova’s diabolical plans for the mutant community charts a potential arc linking X-Men ’97 to Deadpool 3

For comic enthusiasts, the mutant genocide of Genosha in X-Men ’97 was a predetermined event. For inexperienced viewers of the animated series, Remember It was a nightmare and a tragedy. And somehow, it could all be connected to Deadpool 3. Ryan Reynolds’ upcoming Marvel threequel poses a Multiversal voyage as the mercenary anti-hero traipses around with our friends from the TVA for missions unknown.

But what if the shocking tragedy in X-Men ’97 already holds the answers to Deadpool’s mysterious multiversal quest?

Deadpool & Wolverine [Credit: Walt Disney Pictures]

The Potential Thread That Binds X-Men ’97 to Deadpool 3

X-Men ’97 and Deadpool 3 have several things in common, one of them being the introduction of Cassandra Nova. And while the animated series merely teases the character’s existence, the upcoming Marvel feature splurges its plot drama with the mutant supervillain’s diabolical plans.

X-Men ’97 Episode 5 – Remember It – creates havoc on a scale that is essentially hard to forget. In the comics, the mutant genocide on the island haven of Genosha is inherently tied to the immeasurable hatred that Cassandra Nova holds towards her fellow mutant community. Their extinction becomes her sole ambition and the reason for her very existence, leaving sixteen million mutants dead after the straight-out slaughter.

Destruction of Genosha in X-Men ’97 Episode 5 [Credit: Disney+]

Although X-Men ’97 has a much less impactful role assigned to the Xavier twin, her true link to the Genosha incident could be potentially reflected in the plot of Deadpool 3. As revealed in the trailer, the MCU film’s TVA-infused arc could mean Cassandra Nova has finally decided on an expansion of her plans for the mutant community. This not only explains Nova’s antagonistic role in Deadpool 3 but also explains why TVA would team up with the Merc to bring down a sadistic and powerful foe.

The Horrific Origin of Cassandra Nova: Nightmare Personified

Since her conception, Cassandra Nova’s fate as the evil supervillain was predetermined. Born from Charles Xavier’s exceptional powers, Cassandra Nova emerged as a physical form of his Mummadrai, i.e. the anti-self or psychic entities that every being must fight before their birth according to Shi’ar mythology. After sensing her evil presence in the womb, Xavier was forced to kill her, thus causing a miscarriage.

Cassandra Nova [Credit: Marvel Comics]
However, unbeknownst to him, Nova was left as a clump of cells, using her powers to heal herself back into an entity of extraordinary powers that were capable of matching and even surpassing those of Professor X. Her very existence is the anti-thesis to that of her twin’s and as such, her ambition to hurt and destroy is reflected in everything that Xavier wants to protect and preserve.

X-Men ’97 may have merely teased the introduction and motive of Cassandra Nova, but Deadpool & Wolverine could realize her plans and paint a bigger picture using the thread left behind by the X-Men animated series.

X-Men ’97 is streaming on Disney+ and Deadpool & Wolverine premieres on July 26, 2024.