The Marvel universe never ceases to surprise us with its immensity, and among the most requested characters to debut in the MCU is Nova and the discarded idea of ​​​​X-Men 97 creator Beau DeMayo

After years of rumors, it has finally been confirmed that the cosmic hero will be coming to the screen via a series in development. However, before this news came to light, there were several proposals to put the Nova Centurion into action, and one of these stood out for its fresh and bold approach. Beau De Mayoformer showrunner of X-Men ’97, recently shared details of his bold idea for a Nova-inspired series Spaceship soldiersand it seems like fans would have loved something.

A tribute to cosmic satire

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), DeMayo confirmed that he was the one who created this peculiar approach for Nova. According to the creator, his proposal mixed the dark and satirical tone of Spaceship soldiers with the cosmic epic of Annihilationone of the most iconic events in Marvel comics. The plot revolved around Richard Rider (Nova), a young man who enlists in the Nova Corps to impress Namorita, only to face the harsh reality of an intergalactic war.

“The idea was to treat the Wave of Annihilation like an insect Spaceship soldiers and tells the story of a boy who joins the army to impress a girl. In the meantime, you build a group of slowly dying friends as they experience the horrors of intergalactic war.” DeMayo explained.

A dark twist within the Nova Corps

The satirical approach was not limited to action, as DeMayo intended to portray it Nova Corps as an organization that used propaganda to hide the truth and maintain control in space. This narrative would have added a layer of political intrigue and conspiracies, forcing Rick and his team into a rebellious style. Mission impossible. The series would have included Nova Corps Newsletter in the purest style of Paul Verhoeven, showing an idealized version of events, while the main characters faced real chaos and danger.

A survival lesson

Another interesting point of DeMayo’s proposal was his practical approach to keeping the budget under control. As he explained, the plot would take Team Nova to a utopian planet transformed into a ghost town, where they would face creatures controlled by Annihilus. “Starting in episode 3 or 4, the characters would be trapped in this world, creating an environment similar to that of Pitch black for the rest of the season.”he commented.

This limited environment would have reduced the need for expensive special effects, while the atmosphere of survival and suspense would have kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Furthermore, DeMayo planned to reveal that the Nova Corps knew of Annihilus’ existence, but had withheld the information, setting the stage for a second season in which the heroes would completely rebel.

Why didn’t it come true?

Unfortunately this project will not reach our screens, as the current Nova in development will follow another path. According to Brad Winderbaum, head of streaming, television and animation at Marvel Studios, the studio’s approach is to ensure that each project has full development before going into production. “We are developing more of what we do and want to make sure everything is perfect before we move forward”Winderbaum explained.

Even though this version of Nova was left in the pipeline, the passion and creativity behind DeMayo’s proposal made us dream of what could have been. For now, we’ll just have to wait to see how Marvel Studios will bring the beloved cosmic hero into the MCU, with the promise that they will “completely satisfied with the pilot and the series bible” before launching it.

The richness of the Marvel cosmic universe

The character of Nova has been an integral part of Marvel’s cosmic comics since her debut in the 1970s. As a member of the Nova Corps, Richard Rider faced threats such as Annihilus and his feared Annihilation Wave, which was the centerpiece of one of the. the most epic sagas of the Marvel universe. This story arc, written by Keith Giffen, showed the brutality and desperation of a galactic war, making it clear that cosmic heroes also face large-scale moral and physical challenges.

With the expansion of the MCU into the cosmos, as we saw in Guardians of the Galaxy Yes EternalsNova’s arrival seems like a natural step. Whether it’s Richard Rider or Sam Alexander, the hero has the potential to be a bridge between earthly stories and epic galaxy battles.

While Marvel Studios’ approach to its projects is slow but sure, anticipation for Nova continues to grow. What do you expect from the first appearance of the Nova Centurion? You would have loved to see DeMayo’s version inspired by Spaceship soldiers? Tell us in the comments!