While a the MCU timeline has been waiting for Nova to finally appear, further building out the cosmic side of the universe. With recent changes to the Nova project, it is unclear when Nova will finally make his way into the MCU.
In Marvel Comics, Richard Rider was given the power and rank of Nova Prime by the critically injured Rhomann Dey following the destruction of Xandar and the intergalactic peacekeeping force known as the Nova Corps. Eventually, the Corps was rebuilt and Rider became the Human Rocket, a hero to Earth and the galaxy at large as a leading member of the Nova Corps. To that end, here's everything to know about the former Nova project, how it was set up, all previous updates, and who could eventually play Richard Rider on-screen in the MCU.
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Nova Latest News
Development On Nova Has Been Paused
While Nova seemed on track to be introduced in his own show, recent changes to Marvel Studios and how they approach their Disney + series have led to the Nova series being paused and put on indefinite hold, meaning it is essentially canceled. Alongside Nova, the series Strange Academy and Terror Inc. have also been paused.
It's no secret that, post-Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been inconsistent quality-wise, and many point to the excessive amount of projects developed both in film and especially television for Disney + causing Marvel Studios to be spread too thin. It was announced that the studio would once scale back projects to focus on more quality stories, which included an overhaul to Daredevil: Born Again. As a result, some things had to be left behind, and Nova looks to be in that category.
Nova Was In Early Development For The MCU
Having Been Teased For Almost A Decade
In an interview with Comic Book's Brandon Davis, Marvel Studios' Head of Television, Streaming, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum revealed that a Nova show or movie was in the very early stages of development:
"We love Nova. We are in really early development on Nova. We have a new system behind-the-scenes at Marvel Studios. We're more like a traditional studio now. We're developing more than we actually will produce. There are plans to develop Nova. I love Nova, too. I love Rich Rider, too. I hope it gets to the screen. The world is always chaos. There's always things. You gotta conjure these things to make them happen but I would love to see a Nova show, one day."
Considering all the past updates and teases Marvel Studios has given fans in the past regarding a Nova project over the years, this new update was a major moment for the release. After all, the debut of Richard Rider in the MCU has nearly happened on multiple occasions over the last decade, ever since the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, with the character's future in the MCU now uncertain.
What The Nova Cancelation Means For The MCU
Massive Changes To How Marvel Studios Approaches Projects
It's a shame that Nova will no longer headline his own show, given the excitement that has been building up for the character all the way back to Guardians of the Galaxy. A Nova series being developed finally promised to bring in the character, but now that it is no longer happening, it is unclear just when Nova will actually appear in the MCU. Like some of their most successful character introductions in the past, it is likely that he will appear in a ing role in a future MCU movie.
By cutting out extraneous projects, it allows Marvel Studios to hopefully put out better quality shows and movies.
Outside the narrative ramifications of the Nova series being canceled, it also shows a shift in the mindset of Marvel Studios and Disney. The MCU series on Disney + were a good way to expand the universe even further while also driving subscribers to the platform, but it has resulted in more mixed results for the franchie in recent years. Cutting out extraneous projects allows Marvel Studios to hopefully put out better quality shows and movies, with Daredevil: Born Again being the first to be affected by this overhaul.
Every Previous Update On Nova's Part In The MCU
What's Been Said And Set Up Thus Far
In early drafts, Richard Rider was featured in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy alongside the Nova Corps before he was ultimately cut from the script. However, rumors as early as 2017 suggested that Marvel was considering a Nova project. Original drafts for 2018's Avengers: Infinity War had Rider crashing to Earth to warn about Thanos' imminent arrival following the off-screen destruction of Xandar, and Marvel President Kevin Feige claimed Nova had "immediate potential". The Russo brothers joked about Nova being featured in Avengers: Endgame's final battle, though writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely confirmed Rider was intended for both films.
In 2021, rumors and reports came in that Nova Corps in the MCU, including their oath.
Nova Potential MCU Story Explained
Richard Rider Bringing Back The Corps?
Xandar's destruction at the hands of Thanos is almost certainly a key foundation for Nova's origins in the MCU. The same is true of Rhomann Dey, who already exists in the MCU and was played by John C. Reilly in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. As such, Rider could easily be selected by Dey at some point in the MCU, putting him on a mission to revive the Nova Corps that had been lost thanks to the Mad Titan.
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Marvel Comics also has another Nova from Earth named Sam Alexander, a younger member of the Corps who inherited his father's helmet, becoming a hero at a point when Richard Rider was trapped in another reality. However, the two Novas are now working in tandem in the current comics. While the first Nova will likely be Rider, as first mentioned by Winderbaum, Sam Alexander could certainly debut at a later date with the MCU getting two different Novas.
Nova Cast: Who We Want To Play Nova
Several Great Options
It was rumored that Ryan Gosling was in talks to play Richard Rider in the MCU, though the actor did debunk those rumors in 2022. However, he would still be a prime candidate to play the character now that the project is confirmed to be in development. Likewise, other popular names that could don the iconic Nova Centurion's helmet include Miles Teller, John Boyega, Zac Efron, or Taron Egerton. Whoever does play the character in the MCU will have to do it in another project, though, with Nova unfortunately being canceled.
- Films
- Avengers: Secret Wars
- TV Shows
- Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Vision Quest
- Created by
- Kevin Feige
- First Film
- Iron Man
- First TV Show
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Cast
- Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
