Brandon Sklenar Reportedly on Marvel Studios’ Radar for Richard Rider in NOVA

Marvel Studios has been planning to bring Nova into the MCU since 2022, and it was recently confirmed that Nova is being developed as a series.

Now, a new rumor suggests that It Ends With Us star Brandon Sklenar might be in contention for the lead role of Richard Rider.

On The Hot Mic podcast insider Jeff Sneider hinted that Sklenar is someone Marvel Studios is eyeing for Nova. While it’s unclear if any formal talks are happening, Sneider suggests the studio has interest in working with the actor.

Even if you’re not familiar with It Ends With Us, you might recognize Sklenar from Taylor Sheridan’s 1923, and he’s also been a popular fan pick for Batman in James Gunn’s DCU, which he has openly expressed interest in.

For now, nothing is set in stone, but if Sklenar is actually on Marvel’s radar, Nova could be a fun character for him to take on.

Kevin Feige previously confirmed that the series would focus on the Richard Rider version of Nova, who was Introduced in The Man Called Nova #1 (1976) by writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Buscema.

Richard Rider begins as an ordinary high school student from Long Island, New York. His life changes when he is chosen by Rhomann Dey, a dying member of the intergalactic Nova Corps, to inherit his powers and the mantle of Nova Prime.

Endowed with superhuman strength, flight, energy projection, and enhanced durability through the Nova Force, Richard becomes Earth’s representative of the Nova Corps, a cosmic peacekeeping organization.

Over time, Nova matures from a youthful, impulsive hero into a battle-hardened leader, playing a central role in major cosmic events.

It was also explained that the series will have "shades of" both Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.