The Deadpool & Wolverine Villain Request Marvel Rejected
"Deadpool & Wolverine" is right around the corner, and the two titular mutants have quite a fight ahead of them. According to promotional material, they'll have to battle the likes of the Time Variance Authority and the X-Men villain who's dividing Marvel movie fans, Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), during their timeline-hopping adventure, but that's not all. They'll also have to contend with the immensely powerful Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), as previously "spoiled" by the United States government. She's the twin sister of Professor Charles Xavier (Sir Patrick Stewart) with broad telepathic abilities. Corrin hasn't sought to squander their opportunity to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe either, requesting Marvel Studios that they thought would help them, only for it to ultimately be rejected.
Corrin participated in an unconventional interview with British GQ, where they went undercover online to answer the web's burning questions about them. When asked if they underwent any physical training for the Nova role, Corrin revealed that they tried to get a personal trainer, but Marvel Studios shot the idea down. "I did ask if I could have a personal trainer and they said no. They said I don't have to undergo any physical training. I was so ready to undergo a huge transformation but they were like, 'That's absolutely not required of you. Please stand down.' I tried," they explained.
This is a bit surprising to hear given Marvel Studios' track record with its actors' physical fitness, but at the same time, it makes sense for Corrin's character.
Nova is more of a psychological threat than a physical one
It's no secret that throughout the many years the MCU has stood atop pop culture, hero and villain actors alike have gotten absolutely shredded for their respective roles. After all, they are playing comic book characters, so the expectation has been that they'd go out of their way to make their bodies as comic book-like as possible, even if it means damaging themselves or setting unrealistic body standards for moviegoers. Therefore, one might find it odd that Marvel Studios didn't have Emma Corrin go through intense physical training for "Deadpool & Wolverine." On the other hand, Cassandra Nova doesn't necessarily need to appear like Thor (Chris Hemsworth) or Wolverine (Hugh Jackman, who got ripped for the third "Deadpool" film).
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Nova isn't a very physically imposing villain. In fact, seeing as she was effectively stillborn and left to develop on her own in a sewer, she is quite spindly and gaunt. To accurately depict the character, Corrin would actually have to go out of their way to lose a concerning amount of weight, which could pose a major health risk, to say the least. To make up for her smaller frame, the Nova of Marvel Comics relies on her telepathic abilities to wreak havoc, which is likely what Corrin's take will do as well. Therefore, in portraying more of a psychological threat than a physical one, they didn't need extreme dieting and copious workouts to play Nova.
Marvel fans can witness Emma Corrin's take on Cassandra Nova when "Deadpool & Wolverine" premieres on July 26.