Rumours indicate that Marvel is looking to bring Nova and Strange Academy off the pages of the comics and onto the big screen. According to Daniel RPK’s Patreon, MCU originally planned the two projects as Disney+ shows but are now wondering if they would make better movies.
Although both projects were previously announced via Deadline, they were indefinitely put on hold and were never officially greenlit. Now, it appears the projects are not totally dead. This comes after the studio announced a mix up in how they made television shows. Marvel have no decided to take on a more traditional approach to television, with showrunners being brought in to oversee seasons. They also look to pull back on the number of projects released each year and concentrate on more ground-level stories that do not impact the films.
What is Nova about?
Deadline reported back in 2022 that Sabir Pirzada was set to adapt Nova before Ed Bernero took over scripting duties. Nova follows a cosmic-powered hero and the last survivor of the intergalactic military force known as the Nova Corps.
Rumours say that Nova centered on Annihilus and saw the Fantastic Four big bad making her debut as a major MCU villain. Comic Book Movie had reported that Henry Cavill was attached to the film. According to Daniel’s Patroen: "The story thrust Rider into the role of rebuilding the Nova Corps, just as Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave were invading, threatening to take over the universe. Rider would lead a squad of fellow Novas, including Sam Alexander and a handful of original characters in their 20s."
What is Strange Academy about?
Strange Academy was also rumored to be in production with Echo writer Amy Rardin working on the show. It follows the New Orleans school founded by Doctor Strange to help individuals with magical abilities. The show was expected to focus on Wong (played by Benedict Wong) and how he leads these talented youths to unleash their magical potential. Many elements of the recent Ironheart indicate that a Strange Academy spinoff is coming.
While Nova feels primed for cinema with its big science-fiction visuals and space battles, Strange Academy seems like it would make a better TV show. With content suitable for a family audience, Strange Academy would make a great The Goonies with magic show with a similar appeal to Skeleton Crew. Afterall, Disney+ have had a lot of successful with their magic MCU shows with Agatha All Along and Wandavision making the most impact for the streamer.
Marvel Studios' reported decision to pivot away from film-adjacent series may mean they feel better greenlighting Strange Academy and Nova as films instead of television shows. While neither is any closer to being greenlit, written, or cast, it’s nice to know Marvel has not totally forgotten the two projects.