Dark Phoenix is based on Cassandra Nova storylines? Pt.1

So I’m going to reignite a theory about the upcoming Dark Phoenix film that Jessica Chastain is playing Cassandra Nova or at least a character heavily inspired by her, similar to X-24 from Logan who was inspired by Albert. There are already several elements of Grant Morrison’s New X-Men in the movie: the uniforms, a flaming-haired Jean as the Phoenix, Magneto trying to kill Jean, and Genosha having a big role. So it wouldn’t surprising, after all the movie’s working title was called X-Men: Supernova.

I brought this up because I found out that Fox and co apparently keep changing Jessica’s name with each screening.

Once again? Meaning this is the second time her name has been changed? Meaning she has had at least a total of three names? This post was made back in October. Another individual source claims that there was screening around this time, so it’s likely true.

I speculate that they do this to keep her name a secret until the final product is released. This would explain the rumors of her being called Lilandra, the Skrull Queen, and Ms. Sinister. Afterall, this wouldn’t be the first time they tried to misdirect people. Remember this scene from the Deadpool 2 trailer that made it look like the X-Force team was going to kick ass?

She is probably a part of the Mummudrai race(aka Revenants), extraterrestrial psychic entities that Cassandra Nova descents from. They would fit the description of Jessica’s character being an “otherworldly shapeshifter”, as they copy the DNA of other beings to give themselves physical forms that resemble whoever they copy. Cassandra had copied the DNA of Charles Xavier, creating an appearance that resembles his.

Several months ago there was a user on reddit that claimed to have seen a test screening for the movie last year in February and gave some details. It turns out that it was a blogger that didn’t actually see it himself and gave some details that were inaccurate to discredit other bloggers. Such as Jean not becoming Phoenix until the towards the end of movie, which was debunked by the screening of the first 15 minutes at comic-cons. However, it was partially true according to Jeremy Conrad who gave very accurate plot details of Deadpool 2 months before it released.

The trailer released back in September does confirm that it was partially true, but lets focus on the relevant parts of the leak which talk about the powers of Jessica Chastain’s character and who she disguises herself as. The user claims that she takes the form of a woman who she kills instead of just making her own form like what Mystique would do. Maybe she needs to make contact with a person to copy them, similar to a Revenant? The user then says that she poses as a government agent, which is exactly what Cassandra Nova did when she debuted in the storyline E for Extinction.

According to director Simon Kinberg Jessica’s character goes by the alias “Agent Smith”, confirming that she is posing as a government agent. Interviews also confirm more parallels between Cassandra and Smith, such as both having psychic abilities. Smith manipulates Jean like Mastermind did in the original Dark Phoenix, who used psychic illusions on her. She also has telekinesis according to the leak.



Now there was a rumor back in late 2017 that the island of Genosha will appear and be destroyed by Jean. Genosha is now confirmed and there was an image that was released months ago of Magneto laying unconscious on the ground in a devastated area up in flames. Hinting the rumor to be true Genosha, which explains why Magneto wants to kill Jean in the trailer.

In E for Extinction, Genosha was destroyed by Sentinels under the control of Cassandra Nova. With Smith supposedly manipulating Jean to be evil in this movie, that would add yet another parallel to the list. This also wouldn’t be the first time Cassandra tried to control the power of the Phoenix, as it was a major point in X-Men: The End: Book 3.

There is apparently a fight between Smith and Jean. So maybe she gains a piece of the Phoenix Force like in The End?

I think they chose this character because she was technically a member of the Hellfire Club once, who were the manipulating Jean in the original storyline and wanted Jean’s power in another story. But it’s speculation at this point. Have to wait until the movie comes out.