Marvel’s Nova Project Completely Changing?
Rumors say Marvel is increasing the scope of Nova from a one-hour special to a full-fledged solo movie.
Chatter about Marvel Studios’ Nova project has been going on for months, but now there’s a new rumor to add to the mix. Once thought to be a one-hour special, now it seems the studio is making it a full-length feature film. Murphy’s Multiverse brings the news that the cosmic superhero will be joining the MCU theater offerings.
The hero was introduced to the Marvel comic book universe in the 1976 issue The Man Called Nova. His powers come from exposure to the Nova Force, which was given to him by the dying Rhomann Dey, an operative for the intergalactic law enforcers known as the Nova Corps. By day, he is Richard Rider, high school student, but he takes on the name Nova for his crimefighting activity.
With phases five and six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe coming up starting next year, Nova’s appearance was expected. He has had run-ins with Guardians of the Galaxy villainess-turned-antihero Nebula during her pirate days, participated in the battle that defeated the Skrull of Captain Marvel fame, and even faced down Thanos alongside Star-Lord and his crew. In the MCU, the Guardians just had their holiday special on Disney+ and the third volume of their story is slated to be their final film.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is part of a new plan from Marvel to make one-hour specials, rather than entire series telling the stories of heroes like Nova, She-Hulk, and Moon Knight. Another special, Werewolf by Night, has also already been released under this “Special Presentation” format, and it was believed that a Nova project would also fall under this heading. However, with Nova being present in the comics for so many of the MCU’s most important events, there is plenty of material from which to write an entire screenplay.
Previous rumors named Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada as the writer for the property, which was first expected to be a series even before the rumors of a special presentation. Given the direction that Marvel seems to be heading with their off-Earth adventures, it will be up to Nova to take up the mantle left behind by the Guardians of the Galaxy. After all, even Captain Marvel can’t do it alone.
Phases five and six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are bringing a lot of new characters like Nova, as well as changes to old ones. Black Widow saw Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova take over for Natasha Romanoff, and Anthony Mackie’s Falcon took up the shield as the new Captain America. With Secret Wars and The Kang Dynasty on the horizon, the studio seems to be focused on setting the stage for these events by introducing the heroes that will be part of the fight.
Nothing has been confirmed about Marvel’s Nova project yet, as it is still in the development stages. All that is known is that in whatever format, the planet Xandar’s Nova Corps, first seen in Guardians of the Galaxy, will be greatly expanded following the debut of their greatest warrior in the MCU. How this impacts the MCU will be left to unfold onscreen.
