Matthew Macfadyen Joins Deadpool 3 as Ambiguous TVA Agent Paradox, Adding Unpredictable Flair to Marvel's Timeline

Matthew Macfadyen is stepping into a new cinematic universe, moving from Waystar Royco to the Time Variance Authority as Paradox in Deadpool and Wolverine. 

Drawing inspiration from a comic-book character featured in She-Hulk, Paradox's introduction comes as he enlists Wade Wilson for a mission to safeguard the Marvel timeline. His motives are soon shown to be less than altruistic. Nevertheless, Macfadyen mentioned to GamesRadar+ that he wouldn’t classify his character as a straightforward antagonist. 

Over a Zoom call, he mentioned that "he's just a disgruntled apparatchik, aiming to better his situation despite having some personal issues." Macfadyen humorously noted that Paradox likely wishes to be a supervillain or hero but finds himself performing the mundane duty of monitoring timelines. He even mentioned that Paradox would want to be Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier’s sister, who appears to be the primary adversary in the upcoming film.

Throughout his career, Macfadyen has portrayed a wide array of roles, from period dramas like Pride and Prejudice to long-running series such as Succession. Although a superhero film might not seem like an obvious choice for the actor, it was, in fact, the unpredictability that drew him in.

Macfadyen expressed his admiration for Deadpool movies, describing them as irreverent, fun, and humorously enjoyable. The opportunity to work with Ryan Reynolds was particularly appealing, as was collaborating with director Shawn Levy. The script's playful tone convinced him to join the project.

The actor further highlighted that Deadpool 3 stands out within the superhero genre due to its unconventional and humorous approach, something that intrigued him.

Deadpool and Wolverine will hit UK cinemas on July 25 and US theaters on July 26. Keep an eye out for all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows, and find out how to watch the Marvel movies in the correct sequence.