Marvel finally revives its long-delayed MCU series with first real update in a year
Fresh off Loki, writer Michael Waldron is blasting into Marvel’s cosmic lane to helm Nova, aiming to rocket the studio’s next space saga into orbit.
Well, it looks like Marvel might finally be pulling Nova out of the bottom drawer. This one's been a bit of a saga, even by Marvel's standards—a project that's lurked in development limbo for far too long, occasionally surfacing just to tantalise fans and then slipping back into the shadows. If you, like me, assumed Nova was destined to remain a good idea that never quite got off the ground, there’s now an actual sign of life.
Nova's Road to Now
Let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2022, word got around that Marvel Studios had tapped Sabir Pirzada (who wrote for Moon Knight, if that helps orient you) to develop a Disney+ series based on Nova—the cosmic superhero not to be confused with the orange cycling jackets. For a minute, it seemed like proper momentum. But things stalled. In 2024, there was a reshuffle and Ed Bernero stepped in to take over Pirzada’s spot as the series' writer and showrunner.
Then in 2025, the whole project joined a long list of Marvel TV efforts suddenly ‘on hold’, as the studio apparently decided to rethink its entire streaming strategy. This wasn’t exactly encouraging, considering Marvel likes to keep about six hundred balls in the air at any given time, and 'on hold' can often mean you'll never see it again.
Michael Waldron Steps In
Now there's something tangible. The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) has updated its page for Michael Waldron, and it officially lists him as the writer for Nova—a drama series, no less—slated to work on it from 2026 to 2027. If your jaw dropped at the year, fair enough. But at Marvel's current pace, that's practically speedy.
For those keeping score, Waldron is a real heavy-hitter at the studio. He penned Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness back in 2022, created Loki (arguably the MCU's best TV effort, depending who you ask), and wrote Avengers: Doomsday with Stephen McFeely. Not just a Marvel guy, either—he worked on Rick and Morty, made the pro-wrestling drama Heels, and knocked out Chad Powers, the sports comedy starring Stephen Amell and Glen Powell. So, quite a CV, which sorts out any concern that Nova might get left in the hands of someone green.
Honestly, Waldron’s track record with cosmic, multiverse and sometimes outright bonkers storylines is bang on for a character like Nova.
Who, Exactly, Is Nova?
- Nova, usually, is Richard Rider—a New York teenager who becomes a superhero after an alien from the Nova Corps croaks and hands him a seriously overpowered badge. Suddenly, Richard gets superhuman strength, flight, all the good stuff.
- The Nova Corps is pretty much Marvel’s take on the Green Lanterns: a galactic police force keeping peace (or at least trying) across the Nova Empire.
- They did already appear in the MCU—Guardians of the Galaxy, if you clocked Glenn Close in a silly hat. Problem is, by the time Avengers: Infinity War rolled around, Thanos had apparently wiped the lot out. Great for drama, less good for recruitment.
- With the Corps gone, Richard would be the leader by default—a.k.a. Nova Prime.
- Picture Peter Parker, but instead of spiders it’s cosmic police powers, and you’re most of the intergalactic law enforcement by yourself.
We still don't know who's going to play Richard Rider—no names, no leaks, just endless wishlist casting and internet daydreaming. But now that Waldron’s been handed the keys, things could finally start to shift.
What's Next?
Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige did mention last July (2024) that Nova was on the slate, but reckoned the release would be 'three or four years out'. The clock's ticking, but if everything goes smoothly (big ‘if’), they might just stick to that timeline.