MCU’s Nova Movie Confirms Which Version Of Fan-Favorite Marvel Hero Will Lead

Published Sep 4, 2026, 1:49 PM EDT

Andy Behbakht has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2010, covering all the latest in Hollywood on both the big and small screens, from staying on top of the biggest breaking news, analyzing movies and television shows in Hollywood, to in-depth interviews with actors and storytellers.

Andy's career includes having worked for publications such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It's Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more. Outside of his career as an established reporter, Andy is the host and producer of The Showrunner Whisperer, The Flash Podcast, the editor-in-chief of Multiverse of Color, and the network director of DC TV Podcasts.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is bringing in more iconic heroes to the franchise.

In an interview with The Wrap, Michael Waldron, who is behind the upcoming live-action Nova movie, confirmed that Richard Rider will be the focus of the upcoming feature. The MCU veteran shared the following:

The Wrap: You’re doing ‘Nova,’ which is a project that a lot of people, myself included, have wanted for a very long time. Is there anything you can say about what drew you to that project? What makes you excited to take that character on?

Michael Waldron: I don’t know if I can say anything about anything I’m doing with Marvel. But I will say, I love Nova. I love Rich Rider. However we expand the cosmic side of the MCU will be really cool.

The Wrap: Do you have a favorite Richard Rider story? Mine’s ‘Annihilation,’ which I think is just incredible.

Michael Waldron ‘Annihilation’ is, I mean, I guess that’s the go-to, right? But the character spans a lot of generations, and I think maybe that’s why it’s taken some time to get him to the screen, is figuring out, where do you start that story? Do you start him on Earth? Do you start in space, as part of the Nova Corps? Whoever does it, I hope they do a good job.

The Wrap: The Nova Corps obviously kind of got wiped out (in ‘Infinity War’), so that’s something that a story is going to have to reckon with, I’m sure.

Michael Waldron: They would have to reckon with that. Yeah.

The Wrap: They. They sure would.

Michael Waldron: They, yeah, someone would have to reckon with that.