Michael Waldron, the writer behind Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is developing a feature film centered on the cosmic Marvel hero Nova, with plans to direct the project himself if it moves forward, according to Deadline. It would mark Waldron’s feature directorial debut.
How the News Came Together
Word of Waldron’s involvement first surfaced roughly a week earlier, after his Writers Guild of America West directory listing was spotted showing him credited on a project called Nova. That early report was initially met with skepticism online, but Deadline’s July 13 story confirmed the attachment is real — and clarified that, unlike Marvel’s earlier plans for the character, this version is being developed as a theatrical film rather than a streaming series, according to TheWrap. The project remains in early development, and neither Marvel Studios nor representatives for Waldron have commented publicly.
Marvel’s Go-To Writer
Waldron has become one of Kevin Feige’s most trusted collaborators since breaking into the studio’s ranks. He created and served as head writer on Loki‘s first season, rewrote Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and is currently a credited writer on the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Outside the MCU, Waldron co-created the Hulu comedy Chad Powers starring Glen Powell, and runs the production company Anomaly Pictures with partner Adam Fasullo, which holds an overall deal with Disney and, as of this past April, an additional deal with 20th Television, according to his Wikipedia profile.
A Character That’s Been Stuck in Development for Years
Marvel first confirmed plans to bring Nova into the MCU back in 2022, when Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada was assigned to script a Disney+ series centered on the character. That version stalled, with writer Ed Bernero taking over the project in 2024 before Nova ultimately landed among several Marvel television projects paused in 2025 as the studio reevaluated its TV strategy, according to MovieWeb. Waldron’s script represents the character’s pivot from a shelved streaming show to an active film project.
Which Nova Is This, Exactly?
Marvel hasn’t specified which version of the character the film will follow. The comics have two prominent Novas: Richard Rider, the original who first appeared in 1976, and Sam Alexander, a teenager introduced in 2011 who inherited the Nova helmet from his missing father. Nova is a member of the intergalactic Nova Corps, an organization already introduced on screen in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy before appearing to be wiped out when Thanos ransacked Xandar for the Power Stone in Avengers: Infinity War, according to Gizmodo. That history has fueled speculation the film could pull from Annihilation, a comics arc in which Rider becomes the Corps’ sole surviving member following a devastating attack.
What’s Still Up in the Air
Beyond Waldron’s writing credit and directorial interest, almost nothing about the project has been finalized. No release date, cast, or additional creative team members have been announced, and reporting stresses the film remains in an early stage that could still change significantly, per The Playlist. Feige has previously signaled long-term interest in the character, telling press in 2022 that Marvel wasn’t shying away from the cosmic end of its storytelling, even if a Nova project’s timeline remained uncertain, according to ComicBookMovie.com.
A Character Fans Are Still Getting to Know
Reaction to the news has split along familiar lines: longtime comic readers greeted the announcement enthusiastically, while more casual Marvel audiences have openly questioned who Nova even is, reflecting the character’s comparatively limited mainstream recognition when measured against established MCU favourites such as Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Waldron himself has floated at least one piece of fan-casting in the past, telling The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast that his Chad Powers collaborator Glen Powell would be a pretty good Nova — though nothing has been confirmed to suggest that idea is being pursued.
