Report: A Nova movie is in development at Marvel Studios

Marvel’s Man Called Nova is getting set for his first big-screen adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The seeds were planted in 2014 in Guardians of the Galaxy. Kevin Feige teased it and its “immediate potential” at one point. Nothing moved forward just yet, but Marvel’s very own helmeted space cop and Human Rocket, a man called Nova, is slated for his feature film debut as part of the MCU.

MCU Cosmic first reported that a Nova movie was in development in May. Rumors abounded thereafter and for the past few weeks, some sites were saying the project was gathering steam. Though not completely verified at the time, MCU Cosmic says “very reliable sources” confirm Nova is being developed for Phase Five, which is still coming together.

So far, only Black Panther 2 was given an official May 6, 2022, release date. The new Blade film starring Mahershala Ali and The Fantastic Four are expected, as well. Nova might land beside them in one of the unfilled slots.

The site adds there is a chance Nova will appear first in a Disney Plus limited series or Captain Marvel 2, given the cosmic nature of the character. He could have made it into the MCU earlier with an appearance in Avengers: Infinity War. Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely had him in an outline as the sole survivor of Thanos’ attack on Xandar.

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That would’ve ignored a huge chunk of his origin. Student Richard Rider, the first Nova of Earth, inherited his power in a similar fashion to Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern when Rhomann Dey crash-landed on the planet and bestowed Rider with the power of the Nova Force. Dey was played by Wreck-It-Ralph and Walk Hard star John C. Reilly in GOTG.

Rider, created by John Buscema, John Romita, and Marv Wolfman, made his debut in The Man Called Nova No.1 in 1976, a book that ran for 25 issues. He resurfaced in the 90s for two more ongoing series and a stint as a New Warrior. In the 2000s, Rider and the New Warriors resurfaced for the “Annihilation” and “Thanos Imperative” events before the Nova identity was passed to the blue helmet of Sam Alexander.

Alexander caught on and became a cast member of Ultimate Spider-Man on Disney XD. Rider, however, appears to be the one who will make the quasar-powered leap from page to screen sometime in the next decade.

For more on the Nova movie and all Marvel Phase Four and Five productions, keep up with our coverage here at Bam Smack Pow.