Emma Corrin has time and again proved their versatility as an actor, as evidenced by their stint on The Crown. This versatility was further highlighted by their recent performance as the antagonist Cassandra Nova in Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine. Further, in several interviews, Corin has mentioned how they’ve studied the works of James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart’s interpretation of Professor X.
But while the internet might agree with them, James McAvoy, on the other hand, doesn’t and feels it’s a bad AI version of him.
James McAvoy feels his Professor X and Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova look nothing alike
In Hollywood, it’s normal for actors to dive into the works of other A-listers to understand a particular role. This is exactly what Emma Corrin did when they bagged the antagonist Cassandra Nova’s role in Deadpool & Wolverine. In an interview with Screen Rant, they disclosed how, for the role of Professor X’s evil twin sister, they reviewed the performances of James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart.
Corrin also made sure to add only those elements from these past portrayals that could resonate deeply with the fans while also ensuring they remain true to the comics’ roots. But while they did so much research for Nova, James McAvoy, on the other hand, doesn’t feel their characters look anything alike. In an interview via MTV, he added:
You see as a character I don’t think we look alike at all. But when I’ve seen people do like weird bad AI versions of me online, I’m like, that’s what I look like?
While James McAvoy doesn’t see the similarity between his Professor X and Corrin’s Cassandra Nova, the users of X surely do.
James McAvoy, Charles Xavier, is 45 years old.
— TheGodzillaDude🐝 (@TheGodzillaDude) April 22, 2024
Emma Corrin, Cassandra Nova, is 28 years old.
And yet I can absolutely see them as fraternal twins in some regard. pic.twitter.com/vkluaSDY6t
I’m reaching here but Emma Corrin looks exactly like James McAvoy pic.twitter.com/NDVBDDPUGc
— Rhett Proctor (@MCUNerd94) April 22, 2024
also!! we need to see a movie where we see the xavier twins together because james mcavoy and emma corrin do look alike!! i see it!!!!! and she's so pretty so nice to listen to 🥹
— j. (@blairwaldorfs_) July 30, 2024
The casting director ate with this one because holy cow I keep seeing james mcavoy while watching emma corrin as cassandra nova. pic.twitter.com/QPh7t45GxF
— the elusive sniffer (@shandya) July 30, 2024
Is it weird that she kind of looks like a perfect mix of both of them
— William (@Williamdarkman) July 24, 2024
In the original comics, the backstory of the relationship between Charles Xavier and Cassandra Nova is both complex and dramatic. Nova is Xavier’s twin sister, but after he senses her evil and malevolent powers, he kills her in the womb itself. But her escape and survival from this fate are central to her character’s dark evolution.
Is James McAvoy returning to the X-Men?
James McAvoy has had a wonderful career trajectory with several hits to his name. However, in this list, his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, definitely stands the tallest. McAvoy first took on the role of the antagonist in 2011’s X-Men: First Class. This movie served as the starting point of McAvoy in the franchise, and he continued to play the role till 2019’s Dark Phoenix.
Adding to this, in an interview via Variety, the Speak No Evil actor added on the possibility of his return to the X-Men franchise. He added:
I’ve always said, if there’s a good role, if there’s a good opportunity to tell a good story, I’m always going to be interested in it, no matter whether it’s something I’ve done before or something completely brand new. (Further) If there’s good material, I’m always ready to respond. I’m always ready. Ever ready! Actor ready! It’s got to be good, and they’ve got to want to do that, so it’s all hypotheticals.
In the same interview with Variety, the actor was also asked if he’s seen Marvel’s latest Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starrer, Deadpool & Wolverine. The actor admitted that while he had not watched the movie, he was aware that his name would appear in the movie’s credits. He jokingly added, “I know, I know!” I knew I was going to be in the credits. I demanded” and mentioned that he had no plans of appearing in the movie.
You can watch Deadpool & Wolverine in theatres near you.
