Deadpool & Wolverine often mentions the Marvel Multiverse, with cameos and familiar stars. But, one key character is missing: Copycat. Copycat is the alter ego of Vanessa Carlysle, played by Morena Baccarin. Vanessa is a key character in the comics, but she’s not included in the movie.
This choice is unusual, especially since Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) meets many other character Variants during his adventures. Vanessa is important to Deadpool’s story, as she is his main motivation, even though their romantic relationship is strained.
Who Is Copycat in the ‘Deadpool’ Comics?
Created by Fabian Nicieza and Greg Capullo, Vanessa first appears in New Mutants #98 in 1990. She is a mutant shapeshifter with blue skin and red eyes. Unlike Mystique, Vanessa has white hair and can mimic others completely, even their powers if they are mutants.
She can also change into animals. Vanessa’s parents rejected her because of her mutation, and she struggled as a teenager. She used her shapeshifting to survive and met Wade Wilson while working as a sex worker. They fell in love, but Wade’s dangerous job put her life at risk. Despite the threats, Vanessa stayed loyal to Wade. This loyalty saved her life more than once.
When Wade gets cancer, he breaks up with Vanessa to protect her, but this only breaks her heart. Vanessa then becomes a mercenary and adopts a new persona. Even though her new job is darker, her ability to change her appearance helps her with different clients.
Vanessa and Wade’s relationship is complicated. They often fight or get back together, and they work as “coworkers” for Tolliver, an arms dealer.
Vanessa is forced to pretend to be Domino and spy on X-Force. She refuses to bomb the X-Force’s base because she likes her new teammates and has fallen for Cable, who is Domino’s love interest. Tolliver then hires Deadpool to stop Vanessa. Wade fights Vanessa, showing no regret.
Vanessa is exposed and escapes from the X-Force after Deadpool stabs her. She hides with a friend to heal. Wade wants to confess his love when Vanessa nearly dies saving him, but she is now in love with Garrison Kane, another X-Force member. Wade, in a fit of anger, tries to kill Vanessa, but Wolverine saves her.
Vanessa and Garrison leave mercenary work, become actors, and fight enemies. Their peaceful life is cut short when Weapon X’s experiments make them unstable.
Vanessa is then ordered to recruit Deadpool, which leads to more problems. Weapon X decides Vanessa is unreliable and orders Garrison to kill her. Garrison, now ruthless, tries to kill Vanessa. Vanessa dies in a fight with Sabretooth while Deadpool holds her.
Years later, in 2014, Deadpool comics show Vanessa alive, but the story doesn’t explain how she returned. She seems to enjoy her new life, away from Deadpool. In alternate stories, Vanessa joins the Brotherhood of Chaos and gains Scarlet Witch’s powers. Vanessa also appears briefly in X-Men: The Animated Series.
Even though the Deadpool films simplify Vanessa’s character, making her human clarifies the story. Vanessa’s connection with Wade shows that he is not just the Merc with the Mouth, but a person who loves Vanessa deeply.
Not including Copycat in Deadpool & Wolverine was a missed opportunity. Showing Wade meeting Copycat or a Vanessa with mutant abilities would have added depth. Even a small appearance of Copycat would give Morena Baccarin more to do. Vanessa’s comic book story deserves more attention in future films.
