Marvel Studios is reportedly developing a “Nova” movie with Michael Waldron attached as writer and director.
There were earlier reports that “Nova” might be introduced as a Disney+ series, but apparently the character is finally being considered for a theatrical debut. Good idea? Maybe Marvel head Kevin Feige has simply run out of them.
For whatever it’s worth, Waldron had previously mentioned that Glen Powell would be his pick to play Nova.
Nova is a Marvel cosmic superhero whose most famous version is Richard Rider, a human from Earth who becomes a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Nova Corps. Nova plays a major role in space-based Marvel stories alongside characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy.
That said, Nova remains relatively unknown to mainstream audiences compared with characters that have historically made for profitable movies, like Spider-Man, Iron Man, or the Guardians of the Galaxy. And that could be a problem.
Waldron’s involvement is also suspect. His Marvel résumé includes “Loki” season one, which earned him some brownie points from Marvel fans, but he was also one of the key writers on “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
Is Nova actually the right character for Marvel to push forward right now? In case you’re unaware, the studio is in a bit of a bind, with only Spider-Man and Deadpool movies consistently bringing large numbers of ticket buyers to theaters. Audiences currently seem less interested in lesser-known superhero solo movies.
Obviously, the reactions to this news have divided many. Hardcore comic book fans are ecstatic, while casual audiences are scratching their heads and asking, “What the hell is a Nova?”
With the underperformance of “Black Widow,” “The Marvels,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” and the mixed response to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” a broader debate has emerged about Marvel’s post-Endgame strategy—whether it should continue developing deep-cut characters or focus more heavily on established franchises and major crossover events. Today’s news seems to indicate that Marvel will continue attempting to tackle lesser-known characters.
For now, the MCU should be fine, especially with “Avengers: Doomsday,” “Avengers: Secret Wars,” “Black Panther 3,” and “X-Men” on the horizon. There is a possibility that a few of these projects could underperform, but they are all based on fairly well-regarded intellectual properties. The bigger question is what comes after all of that. “Shang-Chi 2”?
Scott is suggesting something more significant than a simple return to the series: the filmmaker appears to believe the franchise has drifted off course.