For all the characters already populating the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are still plenty more fans have been craving see make the jump from comics to the screen in some fashion. One of those characters is Nova, the space-faring hero and member of the Nova Corps, who looks to be firmly on his way to the MCU according to one Marvel executive.
Marvel Studios head of TV, streaming, and animation Brad Winderbaum provided an update on Nova’s MCU status while sitting down with ScreenRant to discuss X-Men ’97. He revealed the studio already has some “ideas simmering” to bring the character to the screen, hinting that Nova could end up making his debut with his own series instead of a feature film.
“It’s new territory for us, developing more shows than we produce,” Winderbaum said. “Nova certainly is exciting to us, we’ve got some great ideas simmering. I think there’s a lot of potential there. I love Nova, also, from the comics, especially the Richard Rider era… we’ll see what happens.”
“But I will say that is a particular project we are excited about and excited about developing.”
Winderbaum’s own statement hints at his preference to bring the Richard Rider-version of Nova to the MCU. However, fans have speculated the Sam Alexander-version of Nova could also be pulled from the comics and dropped into the MCU, especially with the tease of Kamala Khan forming the Young Avengers in one of The Marvels’ post-credit scenes.
Richard Rider was first introduced to Marvel Comics in 1976’s The Man Called Nova as a high school student in New York City. Rider is chosen by the dying alien and Nova Corps member Rhomann Dey to replace him, bequeathing his Nova Centurion suit and powers to Rider. The young hero is then forced to learn “on the job” and begins fighting crime across New York City, teaming up with other heroes like Spider-Man.
He later learns of the Nova Corps and its duties as an intergalactic peacekeeping force, leading to Rider becoming more involved with the corps on its home planet of Xandar. Rider would also split his time between the corps and serving as a member of the New Warriors during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Rider would end up becoming Nova Prime during the events of 2006’s event series Annihilation after the destruction of the Nova Corps forces Rider to become the host for Xandar’s Worldmind and the entirety of the Nova Force, making Rider the strongest Nova in history at the time.
Sam Alexander would be introduced in 2011’s Marvel Point One one-shoot comic before getting his own series in 2013.
He is shown to be a somewhat timid teenager living in Arizona with his mother, sister, and alcoholic father who would constantly ramble about his days as a Nova Centurion. Alexander later learns this was true from Rocket Raccoon and Gamora, both of whom help train the teen after showing him his father’s Nova suit.
Alexander would quickly find himself thrust into superhero society, being part of various teams including the Avengers, New Warriors, and Champions as he continued to train and learn the extent of his powers.
Marvel’s Brad Winderbaum confirms Marvel Studios already has some “ideas simmering” for Nova’s MCU debut. Read More