Six years have passed since Kevin Feige expressed the immediate potential of the Human Rocket to appear in the MCU. Now, Marvel Studios seems on the verge of welcoming Richard Rider into the fray, albeit a few years from now. In 2022, Nova was initially developed as a film with Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada crafting the script. However, a year later, it was transitioned to television and put on hold as the studio restructured its streaming plans. With a new roadmap in place, this year saw things picking up again for Nova, with an eye on a 2025 start of production.

Ed Bernero Joins Marvel Television's Nova

Jeff “The In” Sneider reports that Ed Bernero, with over 25 years of television experience, has agreed to be 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 set to serve as a writer on the streaming project. His background in crime dramas, such as Crossing Lines which focuses on an elite team of special investigators, gives reason to believe that while Rider will be the series' central figure, the other Nova Corps members will play significant roles in the action. With Bernero now on board, the studio will begin assembling a writers room and commence the casting process.

Introducing Annihilus and the Nova Corps

News of Bernero's deal comes shortly after reports suggesting that Nova will introduce the classic Marvel Comics' villain Annihilus and pit the Bug-Lord against a young team of Nova Corpsmen. This addition to the story promises exciting confrontations and character development. Given Bernero's expertise in crime dramas, it's likely that the dynamics between Rider and the other Corps members will be explored in depth. The team will face numerous challenges as they battle against Annihilus, adding a new layer of excitement to the series.

Timeline and Future Plans

As only the third project to feature a true showrunner since the studio's restructuring, predicting a precise timeline is challenging. Looking 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 assume that cameras won't start rolling on Nova until the second half of 2025. With Marvel Studios aiming to reduce its streaming output, it's likely that the series won't reach Disney Plus until 2027 and could potentially be part of the studio's post-Multiverse Saga plans. This indicates that Nova will be a significant addition to Marvel's future content, building anticipation among fans.