The MCU’s Annihilus Deserves More Than The Nova TV Series

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Summary

  • MCU is shifting towards cosmic adventures, leaving earthbound ones behind.
  • Annihilus may debut in the upcoming Nova series as a major MCU villain.
  • Fans eagerly anticipate the Nova series and hope for a successful adaptation of Annihilus.

As a die-hard Marvel fan with over three decades of comic book reading under my belt, let me tell you that the anticipation for both Annihilus and Nova is reaching an all-time high. I remember reading about these characters for the first time, feeling the thrill as Richard Rider donned the Nova helmet or trembling in fear at the sight of Annihilus’ terrifying visage.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe ventures further into its cosmic storylines, the earth-based adventures depicted in earlier Avengers films are becoming relics of the past. From upcoming movies like The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Eternals, and Thor: Love and Thunder, to the forthcoming Nova series, fans can expect even more stellar journeys. However, there’s a risk that one of its most compelling villains could be underutilized in this interstellar expansion.

Information about Ed Bernero’s Nova series is scarce, but recent rumors suggest that Annihilus might make his appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Given that Annihilus ranks among Onslaught, Galactus, and Doctor Doom as powerful villains on par with Thanos, there’s concern that he could be underutilized like Knull from the Sony Spider-Man Universe.

Annihilus Could be the MCU’s Next Thanos

Hailing from the Negative Zone, Annihilus – often referred to as an insect-like ruler – commonly wields the Cosmic Control Rod, granting him divine powers. His primary objectives involve prolonging his existence and eliminating any living beings that oppose him. First appearing in the 1968 annual issue of Fantastic Four, Annihilus is predominantly linked to this superhero team. Given the challenges the Fantastic Four face in The Fantastic Four: First Steps with Galactus, Silver Surfer, and a potential Doctor Doom as adversaries, Annihilus is said to be emerging in the series Nova.

2006’s comic event, “Annihilation“, marked the rise of Annihilus as a formidable adversary. During this storyline, Annihilus led an assault on the Positive Universe with his Annihilation Wave, decimating the Nova Corps and compelling a group of cosmic champions, both heroes and villains, to unite against him. This diverse team consisted of characters like Nova, Star-Lord, a resurrected Drax the Destroyer, Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and a complex role for Thanos. “Annihilation” is renowned as one of Marvel’s largest crossover events, and its success paved the way for a rebooted Guardians of the Galaxy. Notably, the team portrayed in this storyline serves as the foundation for the MCU’s adaptation, implying that fans of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie owe a debt of gratitude to Annihilus.

Before “Avengers: Endgame” was released, there were speculations that Annihilus would take over from Thanos and speculative whispers about the film being named “Avengers: Annihilation”. However, these predictions didn’t come true, and to this day, five years later, no definitive signs of Annihilus have been confirmed. Some hoped that “The Marvels” might give a hint about Annihilus, especially if the story had followed the comics by trapping Mar-Vell and Rick Jones in the Negative Zone using Nega-Bands. This could have created a cohesive narrative.

It’s uncertain who the next major antagonist in the MCU will be, as Jonathan Majors is no longer playing Kang the Conqueror. However, it seems that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could become the main villain in “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” If his storyline concludes in these two films, the MCU may need to find another primary villain. If the cosmic side of the MCU expands, a version inspired by Annihilus might reintroduce the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and the Guardians of the Galaxy from “First Steps.” On the other hand, Annihilus could also be limited to “Nova,” similar to how the Super Skrull was in “Secret Invasion.

There have been similar complaints that a potentially franchise-shattering villain like Mephisto is tipped to debut in Ironheart, which is why more recent rumors that Sacha Baron Cohen will appear in Spider-Man 4 have proved some divisive. At least Annihilus has plenty of comic book history, meaning his role in the Disney+ series makes sense. Also, assuming that the Fantastic Four make it out of Secret Wars alive and Annihilus isn’t defeated in Nova, he has the potential to really shine in the inevitable First Steps sequel.

What do we Know About the Nova TV Series?

Currently, Annihilus seems to be keeping a low profile amidst fan theories that suggest John Malkovich’s character from “First Steps” might actually be a disguise for Annihilus. As for Nova, there has been much discussion about this character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Back in November 2024, James Gunn announced via a now-deleted post that he had initially planned to include Richard Rider’s Nova in the original “Guardians of the Galaxy” and its sequels but ultimately decided to make Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord the sole human member of the team.

Discussions about a Nova series began in the year 2022, but development seems to have been kept under wraps since then. However, an update from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige in July 2024 clarified that the Nova series was indeed being actively worked on. Fans can anticipate seeing this series anywhere between 2027 and 2028. This timeline should pave the way for Annihilus to establish himself as a significant antagonist during Phase 7, also known as the Mutant Saga. Although it’s a considerable wait, especially considering that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, screenwriters of Avengers: Infinity War, once mentioned the possibility of Nova appearing in the 2018 movie.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s disappointing that Nova, who plays a significant role in Marvel Comics’ cosmic tales, hasn’t made an appearance yet. Even director James Gunn admitted that Nova was too important to exclude from the Guardians of the Galaxy films. The same criticism has been levied at the Nova Corps and Glenn Close’s character, Nova Prime, for their limited screen time. In Avengers: Infinity War, a 45-minute sequence featuring Thanos taking the Power Stone by destroying Xander was reportedly cut from the final version of the movie. This might suggest that Nova will be reintroduced in a future MCU project, possibly before this event takes place. Just like Mephisto’s appearance in Ironheart and Lady Death in Agatha All Along, fans have grown accustomed to unexpected twists in the Marvel Universe.

Currently, Marvel Studios has plans for Annihilus and Nova set further down the line in the franchise’s development. Historically, Marvel Studios has been known for its forward planning, but some fans have expressed concerns about MCU projects being announced years before they are released (or even produced). It’s also essential to maintain excitement for upcoming characters such as the Fantastic Four, Galactus, and Marvel’s unique interpretation of Doctor Doom. Fortunately, the Nova series offers fans something exciting to anticipate. Given the potential of both Annihilus and Nova, fans eagerly await a satisfying collaboration between these characters that does justice to their stories, rather than being limited to a brief six-episode miniseries.

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2024-12-22 18:06