It looks like Nova is finally making its long-awaited arrival to the MCU after over a decade of anticipation. Richard Rider, the cosmic hero who has been on the sidelines since the introduction of the Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), is stepping into the spotlight in his own Disney+ series. Fans have been hoping for this moment ever since the Nova Corps was decimated in Avengers: Infinity War, with Rider poised to inherit their legacy. The excitement is real, and with the cosmic hero’s series now officially in development, there’s a lot to unpack about what’s in store.
Interestingly, the Nova series will have a unique spin, especially considering the new showrunner, Ed Bernero, who has a background in the police procedural genre. Bernero, best known for his work on Criminal Minds, is taking over from Sabir Pirzada, who was originally announced to pen the show. While the finer details are scarce, Bernero’s hiring gives us an important clue: Nova is likely to follow a similar tone to one of DC’s upcoming projects, Lanterns.
Lanterns, from the DCU slate overseen by James Gunn, is a reboot of the Green Lantern Corps, envisioned as a cosmic, buddy cop crime drama in the vein of True Detective. This shared detective theme between Nova and Lanterns seems to be more than just coincidence. Both heroes are part of their respective space police forces, with Nova wielding the Nova Force, much like Green Lanterns harness the power of their rings. By bringing Bernero on board, Marvel appears to be aiming for a detective-style approach that blends the cosmic superhero genre with procedural drama, a direction that could make the series stand out.
Given Bernero’s experience with crime procedurals, it’s likely Nova will delve into the intricacies of cosmic law enforcement, combining action with investigation. This new direction suggests that Nova could run for multiple seasons, tapping into the appeal of long-running, episodic storytelling. Fans are already speculating about possible crossovers with other Marvel characters and stories, and with the cosmic angle, the series has endless potential.
And for Criminal Minds fans, there’s an additional layer of fun: many are already suggesting that Matthew Gray Gubler, known for his role as Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, would be an ideal fit for the role of Richard Rider. It’s a fun idea, and given Bernero’s ties to Criminal Minds, it’s certainly one fans will be buzzing about until more casting news emerges.
As for Moon Knight season 2, let’s hope Pirzada’s involvement in Nova doesn’t mean he’s leaving the Moon Knight project behind—after all, we’ve been waiting for updates on both shows for a long time now.