
While the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise may have reached its conclusion with the release of Vol. 3 in 2023, Marvel fans won’t have to wait too long for a return to the cosmos. The studio is reportedly pushing forward with its long-awaited Nova series, which promises to bring a fresh, dynamic, and – rumor has it – “sexy” energy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy carved out its own niche within the MCU, thanks in large part to James Gunn’s singular – and irreplaceable – vision.
Combining irreverent humor, heartfelt storytelling, and unforgettable soundtracks, Gunn gave the franchise a distinct voice. However, with Gunn now at the helm of DC Studios and key cast members like Zoë Saldana (Gamora) and Dave Bautista (Drax) stepping away, the franchise seems to have reached its natural endpoint.
Despite a tease of Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) return in the post-credits scene of Vol. 3, we still don’t know when Peter Quill will be back on our screens. In the meantime, Marvel has shifted its cosmic focus to Nova, a character whose lore overlaps with the Guardians universe.
Marvel’s New “Young and Sexy” Project
The Nova Corps, introduced in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, served as the intergalactic police force based on Xandar and played a pivotal role in Peter Quill and his team’s initial adventures.
Although Richard Rider, the most well-known Nova in Marvel Comics, was initially considered for inclusion in the Guardians films, Gunn chose to center the trilogy on Peter Quill as the sole human lead. Now, with the Guardians saga wrapped, Marvel appears ready to give Nova his long-overdue spotlight.
According to scooper @MyTimeToShineH (via ComicBookMovie), Marvel is actively seeking writers for the Nova series, aiming to inject it with a “young and sexy” vibe reminiscent of 1980s military films.
One pitch was “essentially Starship Troopers, with Richard Rider in Casper’s arc as a sort of cocky jerk who falls in love with Namorita, joins the Nova Corps, and gets assigned to a backwater ‘Outer Rim’-like planet that becomes the first phase of the Annihilus wave.”
Another apparently “treated the Annihilation Wave like the bugs in Starship Troopers, really leaning into the theme of how the Nova Corps uses propaganda to police the galaxy and recruit members.”
Former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo confirmed the accuracy of these reports, even revealing that he had pitched a multi-season vision for Nova. However, DeMayo’s involvement ended abruptly in March 2024 when Marvel Studios fired him following an internal investigation. DeMayo later accused the studio of misconduct in a controversial video shared on his OnlyFans account.
Though details remain scarce, the Nova series offers an intriguing opportunity for Marvel to explore cosmic storytelling with a fresh perspective. Combining action, character-driven drama, and a touch of nostalgia, Nova has the potential to chart a bold new course for the MCU’s intergalactic narratives.
How do you feel about Marvel’s plans for Nova?