Deadpool & Wolverine Almost Had Mephisto as Its Main Villain

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As a hardcore gamer and comic book enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment that Mephisto didn’t end up being the villain in Deadpool & Wolverine. The prospect of seeing Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman face off against the immortal demonic entity in this highly anticipated film was an exciting one.

During a recent interview, Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy shared that their upcoming project, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” originally considered Mephisto as its primary villain. Known for his immortal, demonic existence, Mephisto has previously appeared in the films “Ghost Rider” (2007) and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (2012). If the filmmakers had stuck with an earlier draft of the story, Mephisto could have antagonized Deadpool and Wolverine instead.

Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy considered having Mephisto as Deadpool & Wolverine’s villain

Reynolds and Levy considered having Mephisto as the antagonist for Deadpool 3 during the early planning process. But once Jackman joined the project, their ideas shifted.

I went through numerous drafts of this story that came close but didn’t quite hit the mark. But then, Hugh surprised us with a call, leading us to explore the idea of Cassandra Nova as Charles Xavier’s sibling. This twist not only adds intrigue to the dynamic between Cassandra and myself as Magneto, but also deepens my character’s fascination with Professor X.

Based on Levy’s account, Jackman almost intervened just as Reynolds and him were pondering contacting Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige regarding postponing Deadpool 3. Prior to that, they had encountered some halt-and-go progress but found it challenging to create a unique and distinctive narrative distinct from the previous two films, as explained by the director in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Why Cassandra Nova became the perfect villain for Deadpool & Wolverine

Emma Corrin’s character, Cassandra Nova, is an ideal antagonist for Deadpool and Wolverine due to several factors. As Levy explained, Cassandra’s link to Charles Xavier fuels her desire towards Wolverine. Had Mephisto continued as the adversary, the plot would have taken a starkly dissimilar turn.

Reynolds additionally shared that the grisly comic book portrayal of Cassandra significantly influenced her transformation into the movie’s adversary. During their initial encounter in London, Levy brought along his iPad displaying Cassandra’s panels showing her with her hands inside someone’s skull. The director was captivated by its grotesque yet intriguing appeal, and they both exclaimed, “That’s our villain!”

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2024-07-23 16:11