Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Nova

  • Upgraded to Theatrical — Marvel Studios Scraps ‘Nova’ Disney+ Series for Feature Film Written by Michael Waldron

    Marvel’s greatest Cosmic hero is finally headed to the big screen…maybe.

    Following reports that Marvel Television’s Nova was taking flight under veteran MCU scribe Michael Waldron, Deadline has confirmed his involvement while revealing that the project is once again being developed as a feature film which he may direct should the studio choose to put the film on its slate.

    The path of the Human Rocket to this theatrical announcement has been incredibly turbulent. Marvel Studios originally began mapping out Nova as a localized Disney+ streaming series all the way back in 2022 with Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada, later cycling through veteran showrunner Ed Bernero before completely shelving the TV format in 2025 as part of Disney’s broader streaming spending cuts.

    For years, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has publicly noted that a Nova project was “three or four years out,” but core comic book purists have voiced intense anxiety over whether a television budget could properly do justice to the such a key Cosmic character. Now, if Waldron‘s project should move down the pipeline into production–the trade report stresses its development is in its earliest stages–Rider will get his opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.

    Source: Deadline

  • Marvel Television’s ‘Nova’ Takes Flight Again Under Veteran MCU Scribe

    Marvel Television’s ‘Nova’ Takes Flight Again Under Veteran MCU Scribe

    More than eight years have passed since Marvel Studios’ One Above All, Kevin Feige, first claimed that Nova was a character with “immediate potential” to debut in the MCU. After several starts and stops, it looks like the Human Rocket is being prepared for launch again, this time with a Marvel Studios veteran scribe at the helm.

    …we have a big board with a bunch of characters that have more immediate potential, Nova is on that board. Because of the connection to the Guardians universe, because there are more than one examples to pull from in the comics that are interesting. And you’re absolutely right, he was in the earliest drafts of the [Guardians of the Galaxy].

    -Kevin Feige, April 2018
    According to the Writers Guild of America West (and located by a Murphy’s Multiverse Discord user) , Loki creator and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron, who has also helped Stephen McFeely and the Russo brohters shape the narratives of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, has taken over writing duties on Nova.

    First developed as a film with Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada working on the script in 2022, Nova was transitioned to television a year later and put on hold while the studio began restructuring its streaming plans. With a new roadmap in place, things started moving on Nova in late 2024, veteran TV writer Ed Bernerowas tasked with bringing the Human Rocket to D+

    While Bernero’s take would reportedly introduce the classic Marvel Comics villain Annihilus and pit the Bug-Lord against Richard Rider and a young team of Nova Corpsmen. It’s unclear if Waldron‘s pitch would follow this route or be something entirely different.

    Given the dates listed, it looks as though Marvel Television might be looking at beginning production sometime this year with a potential 2027 release date for the series. Neither Disney nor Waldron’s reps responded to requests for confirmation at the time of publishing.

  • Following “Great” MCU Debut, ‘Vision’ Showrunner Reportedly Lining Up a Second Project

    Following “Great” MCU Debut, ‘Vision’ Showrunner Reportedly Lining Up a Second Project

    Marvel Television’s Paul Bettany-led Vision series has rarely been discussed by the studio but that hasn’t stopped hype from building for the series.

    Originally developed by WandaVision and Agatha All Along showrunner Jac Schaeffer, Vision was passed off to Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas in May 2024. Matalas wasted no time rebuilding the show according to his new…vision…and from what can be gleaned by going through the confirmed cast–which includes Ultron voice actor James Spader and Foundation star T’Nia Miller as his bride, Jocasta–and team of directors, Vision may end up being a tense psychological thriller with notes of existential crisis…and it sounds as though it’s pretty good, too.

    During a recent podcast, Jeff “The In” Sneider shared what he’d heard about the show–and it’s showrunner–and it’s all very positive.

    “I’ve heard that Vision is great,” Sneider said before adding an additional tidbit. “The showrunner, Terry Matalas, may end up working on Nova and that he may get like an overall deal at Marvel.”

    Setting aside the short but sweet news that Vision, which is set to stream in 2026, is already generating positive buzz, Sneider’s information on Matalas potentially taking the helm of Nova is the first word on that subject since the project was reportedly shelved shortly after Ed Bernero agreed to become the showrunner of Marvel Television’s Cosmic streaming series.

    If Matalas were to take over the series, it’s unclear how much of the previous work done by Bernero would be used or if Matalas, a Star Trek vet, would start from scratch. Previous rumors indicated the project would feature Richard Rider rebuilding the Nova Corps in the wake of Thanos’ destruction of Xandar in search of the Power Stone just prior to the events of Avengers: Infinity War.

  • New Details Emerge about Marvel Television’s Newly Delayed Streaming Series

    New Details Emerge about Marvel Television’s Newly Delayed Streaming Series

    Just a couple of months ago, Marvel Studios seemed as though it was ready to finally launch the Human Rocket into the MCU. After being originally developed as a film by Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada in 2022, Nova was put on the back burner by the studio before being repackaged as a streaming series. With a new course charted for Richard Rider’s long-awaited debut, Marvel Television brought veteran showrunner Ed Bernero in to get the series ready for a reported late-2025 start of production.

    Now, even as rumors fly around actors Marvel may be considering for the role of Richard Rider, Nova is once again grounded. According to Deadline, Marvel Television has paused the development of multiple streaming series, including Nova.

    Though studio representatives are quick to point out that the series was never greenlit, Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum confirmed the project was moving forward in September 2024, calling it “an amazing ensemble piece.”

    To that end, new details about Nova were shared by insider Daniel Richtman, who claimed that the series would see Rider rebuilding the Nova Corps after Thanos’ decimated it prior to the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Richtman also revealed that Rider’s team, the ensemble referenced by Winderbaum, would be made up of Sam Alexander and a handful of original characters created for the D+ series.

    Interestingly, both Deadline and studio insider Jeff Sneider were bullish on Nova still making it to the screen, claiming that the series is simply delayed while the studio revamps its process.

    Sources: Deadline, X

  • ‘It Ends With Us’, ‘1923’ Star In the Mix for Major Marvel Studios Role

    ‘It Ends With Us’, ‘1923’ Star In the Mix for Major Marvel Studios Role

    Though cameras haven’t begun rolling quite yet, Marvel Studios has a busy year ahead. While the biggest news will almost certainly center around the two films headed into production this year (Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man 4), a trio of streaming series are also slated for filming. The Paul Bettany-led Vision and Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again are both reportedly getting underway in February, keeping Marvel Television busy for the first half of the new year. Next up on the list is a series that has come together quickly after being put on the back burner for a couple of years.

    First revealed to be in development as a film in 2022 with Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada on board to write the script, Nova reentered development as a streaming series in early 2024. Described by Marvel Television boss Brad Winderbaum as “an amazing ensemble piece” that will explore “how heated that Richard Rider kind of world can get,” Nova picked up veteran TV crime writer Ed Bernero as its showrunner in December. And while Bernero puts together a writers room and prepares the series’ scripts, a new report suggests that casting for the project is already underway.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Marvel has begun to narrow down it’s list of potential candidates to bring the Human Rocket to life in the MCU. At or near the top of that list, according to the longtime Hollywood insider, is It Ends with Us and 1923 star Brandon Sklenar.

    Recent reports indicated that Nova will introduce the classic Marvel Comics’ villain Annihilus and pit the Bug-Lord against a young team of Nova Corpsmen. Given Bernero‘s background, which  includes Criminal Minds, the NBC crime drama Third Watch and Crossing Lines, a crime drama that focuses on an elite team of special investigators, it seems reasonable to assume that while Rider will be the series’ central figure, the other Corps members will feature prominently in the action.

    With the studio looking to lock down an actor for the role of Richard Rider now, it’s possible that production could get underway in the next six months or so. That said, it’s been believed for some time that Nova will not be included in the Multiverse Saga and won’t stream on D+ until 2027.

    Source: Hot Mic

  • Marvel Television’s ‘Nova’ Adds Veteran Crime Drama Showrunner

    Marvel Television’s ‘Nova’ Adds Veteran Crime Drama Showrunner

    Six years after Kevin Feige claimed that the Human Rocket had “immediate potential” to pop up in the MCU, Marvel Studios finally seems to be ready for Richard Rider to join the fray…a few years from now. First developed as a film with Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada working on the script in 2022, Nova was transitioned to television a year later and put on hold while the studio began restructuring its streaming plans. With a new roadmap in place, things started moving on Nova again earlier this year with an eye on a 2025 start of production. With the new year right around the corner, a new report has revealed that Marvel is indeed ready to launch Nova and has brought a veteran TV writer on board to lead the charge.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Ed Bernero, who has over 25 years of television experience, has agreed to become the showrunner of Marvel Television’s Nova. Bernero, who created the NBC crime drama Third Watch and wrote more than two dozen episodes of Criminal Minds, is also expected to serve as a writer on the streaming project.

    News of Bernero’s deal comes hot on the heels of a report that Nova would introduce the classic Marvel Comics’ villain Annihilus and pit the Bug-Lord against a young team of Nova Corpsmen. Given Bernero‘s background, which also includes Crossing Lines, a crime drama that focuses on an elite team of special investigators, it seems reasonable to assume that while Rider will be the series’ central figure, the other Corps members will feature prominently in the action. With Bernero just now signing on, the studio will begin assembling a writers room and start the casting process.

    As only the third project to feature a true showrunner since the studio’s restructuring, there’s not enough data to accurately predict a timeline of events; however, taking a look at the timeline from Terry Matalas‘ taking over as showrunner of the upcoming Vision series in May 2024 to its expected February 2025 start of production, it’s safe to say cameras won’t roll on Nova until the second half of 2025. With Marvel Studios actively seeking to reduce its streaming output, that likely means the series won’t hit Disney Plus until 2027 and may actually be part of the studio’s post-Multiverse Saga plans.

    Source: The In”Sneider”, Deadline

  • Major Marvel Villain Reportedly Set to Debut in D+ Streaming Series

    Major Marvel Villain Reportedly Set to Debut in D+ Streaming Series

    As Marvel Studios struggled to string together consecutive hits from 2021 through 2023, fans not only believed those struggles signaled the end of the studio’s time on top was near but also began to embrace some disturbing revisionism. While fans and critics alike piled on their reprovals of Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumanaia, Secret Invasion and more, they bemoaned the loss of the good old days of the Infinity Saga, when Marvel didn’t miss…except that’s not exactly how it went down.

    The mind has a way of distorting memories of reality as time moves on and remembering the Infinity Saga as a perfect bundle of projects is a perfect example. Not only did Marvel Studios produce some duds during its first saga (Thor: The Dark World, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 still stand among the least-loved MCU films), but it also had an ongoing problem pitting its heroes against incredibly weak villains for the better part of an entire phase. “Marvel has a villain problem” was an ongoing criticism of Phase 2 in which the studio dropped the ball adapting some of Marvel Comics’ great baddies such as Malekith, Ronan the Accuser and Advanced Idea Mechanics. The studio heard the criticisms, addressed them behind the scenes and moved forward with an improved lineup of antagonists. In 2017, the studio’s capacity to challenge its heroes increased exponentially with an influx of available characters following the acquisition of the live-action rights of the sizeable stable of characters previously owned by Fox. Now, a new report reveals that the studio may finally have found the right project in which to unleash one of Marvel Comics greatest threats for his live-action debut.

    According to long-time MCU insider Daniel Richtman, the interdimensional nihilist Annihilus will serve as the primary antagonist of Marvel Television’s Nova.

    It’s been over half a decade since Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, called Marvel’s greatest cosmic hero, Nova, a character that had “immediate potential” to show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Immediacy is relative, apparently. Despite Marvel Studios giving a Disney Plus Nova series the green light in March 2022, the project–written by Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada—was rumored to be headed to the big screen before being unceremoniously shoved to the back burner as other projects took precedence. Earlier this year, Richtman reported that the studio had finalized plans to develop Nova as a streaming series and to have the original Human Rocket, Richard Rider, as the lead alongside a team of young Nova Corpsmen. Adding Annihilus to the mix would indicate the studio plans to pull no punches as it rightfully looks to set up Rider as its greatest Cosmic hero.

    Originally introduced as a Fantastic Four villain, Annihilus has grown in power over the years and has become a threat to the existence of the entire universe. The ruler of a pocket dimension known as the Negative Zone, Annihilus, with the power gifted to him by wielding the Cosmic Control Rod, set his sights on conquering Earth and then the entire “positive” galaxy. Thus, in 2006, Annihilus was the main antagonist of the Cosmic crossover event, Annihilation, in which he lead his Annihilation Wave out of the Negative Zone and wreaked havoc on the galaxy as he attempted to extinguish all life within it.

    Of course, any use of the Nova Corps would require some significant changes to the organization which was first introduced in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, especially if they are going to take on The Lord of the Negative Zone. Though it wasn’t seen on screen, Thanos likely provided the first steps in that direction when he took the Power Stone from Xandar before attacking Thor, Loki, Hulk and a shipful of Asgardians between the events of Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War.

    With production on Nova expected to begin in 2025 and Marvel Studios looking to reduce its output of streaming series to two per year, it seems reasonable that the series may not make its way to Disney Plus until 2027, making a full decade between the acquisition of the live-action rights to Annhilus and his MCU debut. Given the potential, however, for the First-born Son of Oblivion to be an ongoing threat for a new saga, it may end up having been worth the wait.

  • Marvel Studios TV Head Confirms Which Nova Will Lead Disney Plus Streaming Series

    Marvel Studios TV Head Confirms Which Nova Will Lead Disney Plus Streaming Series

    It’s been over six years since Kevin Feige called Nova a character with “immediate potential” to make his way into the MCU and yet, somehow, the Human Rocket remains grounded. Hope that the character might finally be ready to take off briefly flickered in 2022 when Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada agreed to begin development on a Nova project; however, following Bob Iger‘s return to Disney–which came with a mandate to slow things down on the Marvel Studios production line–development on Nova was paused as Marvel’s TV division underwent some restructuring. And then, just as the project seemed destined for the scrap heap, news came that the studio was looking to begin production on it–as a Disney Plus streaming series–in 2025.

    Though there’s been no official word from Marvel Studios that they intend to begin work on the project, Marvel Television head man Brad Winderbaum has been willing to at least confirm that they are working on a Nova series. Now, in a new interview with Phase Zero, Winderbaum revealed which of the two characters who have gone by the name of Nova in the pages of Marvel Comics will lead the show.

    After once again confirming to Phase Zero’s Brandon Davis that Nova remains in development, Winderbaum went on to tease what fans can expect from the streaming series. While addressing how Marvel Television might go about bringing a character with such a large collection of Cosmic stories in his background to Disney Plus, Winderbaum revealed that Nova is being developed as “an amazing ensemble piece” before explaining that fans of the comics will know “how heated that Richard Rider kind of world can get.“

    And it doesn’t really get any clearer than that, folks…

    While the inclusion of Rider as the series’ presumed lead does not preclude the inclusion of Sam Alexander, it would be in the best interest of the studio’s pursuit of longform storytelling to be patient. The studio has previously shown no compunction in choosing to skip over OG comic book heroes in order to put legacy characters front and center in different projects. Winderbaum’s comments seem to indicate that in the case of Nova, the studio will put its greatest Cosmic hero in the spotlight first while likely still leaving room for an understudy to fill the helmet down the road.

  • Rumored Casting Call Could Bring an All-New Team of Heroes to Marvel Studios ‘Nova’

    Rumored Casting Call Could Bring an All-New Team of Heroes to Marvel Studios ‘Nova’

    While Marvel Studios Blade continues to struggle to get into production, a character whose “immediate potential” to enter the MCU predates the 2019 SDCC announcement of Blade is still waiting for an entry point. Nova, Marvel’s Human Rocket, was first identified by Kevin Feige as a character to keep an eye on at 2018’s premiere of Avengers: Infinity War and while the studio put the gears in motion on a streaming series over two years ago, little progress has been made. However, it sounds as though the project may be getting closer to lift off and a new casting call could point toward a classic late-80s, early-90s comic book team showing up in the streaming series.

    According to insider Daniel RPK, Marvel Studios has brought a showrunner on board for Nova and in addition to having begun the search for the show’s lead, the studio is also searching for additional talent that has been described as a “group of young protagonists.” While there’s been no indication of whether or not the series will feature Richard Rider or Sam Alexander, the inclusion of a group of young protagonists could be a clue that it’s Rider and the group could just be…The New Warriors!

    While Rider’s time as Nova is certainly most associated with Cosmic adventures such as Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest, many of his early adventures took place on Earth, including teaming up with Night Thrasher, Vance Astro, Firestar, Namorita and Speedball to form the original New Warriors. Introducing the team alongside Rider in a Nova streaming series would be a surprise to be sure but a welcome one.

    The New Warriors almost made it to the screen as a traditional TV series on Freeform. After being greenlit as a 10-episode series in 2017, the series filmed a pilot which was highly regarded but never made it out of the can. Created and written by Kevin Biegel, New Warriors would have featured Squirrel Girl, Mr. Immortal, Microbe, Debrii and original team members Night Thrasher and Speedball. After being dropped by Freeform, New Warriors never found another studio and ultimately was shelved. Could Nova give new life to the group? It’s far too early to say but it is an interesting possibility.

  • ‘Nova’: Marvel Studios Finally Charts a Course for the Human Rocket

    ‘Nova’: Marvel Studios Finally Charts a Course for the Human Rocket

    It’s been over half a decade since Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, called Marvel’s greatest cosmic hero, Nova, a character that had “immediate potential” to show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Immediacy is relative, apparently. Despite Marvel Studios giving a Disney Plus Nova series the green light in March 2022, the project–written by Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada—was rumored to be headed to the big screen before being unceremoniously shoved to the back burner as other projects took precedence. Now it seems the studio has made a decision about how to best introduce the Human Rocket.

    According to insider Daniel RPK, Marvel Television will indeed be handling Nova’s introduction with production on the Disney Plus streaming series is slated to begin in 2025.

    While it’s clear Marvel Studios has charted a course that will bring the Human Rocket to the MCU, it’s still not entirely clear which iteration of the character (Richard Rider or Sam Alexander) fans will meet. While RPK’s report indicates the studio will be searching for a young lead, both Rider and Alexander were teens when they donned the helmet and became Nova. Though younger fans may be more familiar with Alexander, Rider is arguably one of the greatest heroes in the history of Marvel Comics. In skipping over Rider to get to Alexander, Marvel Studios runs the risk of repeating the mistake of foregoing the stories of an OG hero to tell the stories of a more modern one.

    If the studio has begun the search for its leading man, it’s likely that the series will head into production by the first half of 2025. If that’s the case, it would likely partner with Vision Quest (and possibly a second season of Daredevil: Born Again) as Marvel Television’s 2026 streaming offerings.