After years of rumour, an executive at Marvel Studios has confirmed that fan-favourite Nova is to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Marvel Studios’ head of television, streaming and animation, Brad Winterbaum, said in an interview with ComicBook.com that a Nova live-action project is in its infancy, and could be developed into a movie or a TV show.
“We love Nova,” he said. “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.”
However, Winterbaum added that Marvel Studios develop more content than they produce, so it is by no means certain a movie or TV show will see the light of day.
Nova is a long-established character in the Marvel canon – he first appeared in comics as far back as 1976 – and there have long been rumours that he would appear in the MCU. As far back as 2018, Kevin Feige hinted that Nova could appear in phase 4 of the MCU, saying that Nova was among a number of characters that have potential to be developed on-screen. In January 2021, he again hinted Nova could join the MCU.
Nova – also known as Richard Rider – is a human from New York who becomes part of the Nova Corps, an elite force on the planet Xandar, and given superpowers – including superhuman strength, speed and agility, flight, regenerative healing and able to open wormholes. He has had many battles over the years – on Earth and on other planets – as well as teaming up with the likes of Spider-Man and Captain America.
With development being at an early stage, it could still be some years before we see Nova on screen – perhaps after the current Multiverse saga in the films has concluded. But fans will be happy to know that something is finally in the works.
