I Can’t Believe I Totally Agree With James Gunn About Cutting 1 Huge Marvel Hero From The MCU’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

James Gunn’s decision to cut a major Marvel character from Guardians of the Galaxy was a wise move, in my view. To be perfectly honest, James Gunn made several stellar decisions with his MCU debut, with Guardians of the Galaxy ranking among the best MCU movies in the eyes of fans and critics alike. This is a trend that continued with its spin-offs and sequels, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 softening the blow of an otherwise particularly disappointing 2023 for Marvel Studios.

The stellar cast in every Guardians of the Galaxy production is largely to thank for the franchise’s success. The titular gang is composed of some of the MCU’s most beloved characters, with Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill perfectly embodying the role of a plucky and resourceful (half) human thrust into the perilous cosmos against his will. Fans of Marvel Comics may notice, however, that their appearances have been conspicuously devoid of one other character and intermittent team member, for which James Gunn has a decent excuse.

James Gunn Explained In 2024 Why He Cut Nova From The MCU Guardians Of The Galaxy

His Response Was Short But Illuminating

Richard Rider, AKA Nova, is one of Marvel’s foremost cosmic characters with deep ties to the Guardians of the Galaxy. His ties to the Nova Corps, meanwhile, are inexorable, as he owes his cosmic powers to the combined might of the cosmic militia. Both connections have led many to wonder why Rider’s Nova never made an appearance in any Guardians movie – particularly in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which heavily featured Xandar and the Nova Corps.

This question was posed to James Gunn via Threads. The franchise visionary is renowned for interacting candidly with fans on the platform about his MCU and DCU projects. When asked why he didn’t include Nova in any of the Guardians movies, Gunn gave a short but sweet response, clarifying that he wanted Peter Quill to be the only human in the franchise.

In actuality, Richard Rider is more human than Peter Quill in Marvel Comics. Beginning his life as a regular human on Earth, Rider was thrust into the life of an intergalactic hero when the dying Nova Corps leader, Rhomann Dey, came to Earth and bestowed him with the cosmic might of the Nova Force. While his paternal lineage differs in Marvel Comics and the MCU, Peter Quill is only half-human in both. Still, his humanity is an integral part of Quill’s characterization in the MCU and, for that reason, I think Gunn makes a pretty good point.

I Totally Agree With Why Nova Was Cut From The MCU’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Despite The Character’s Potential

Richard Rider’s Absence Let Peter Quill Take Center Stage

The fact that Nova’s future in the MCU remains a hot topic among Marvel fans speaks volumes about the character’s appeal and potential. Still, I don’t think the Guardians franchise was necessarily the best place to debut the character, especially with Peter Quill at the helm. Part of Quill’s charm stems from his unique circumstances within the team, with a measure of relatability drawing from his human heritage and early life on Earth. Adding Richard Rider to the mix would have only diluted this aspect of Quill’s character, and maybe even sidelined it altogether.

One of Peter Quill’s funniest lines is in reference to his human heritage, retorting to Tony Stark’s observation that he’s from Earth with, “I’m not from Earth, I’m from Missouri.” Even more pertinent is the fact that Peter Quill’s entire MCU arc recently culminated in his return to Earth to be with his grandfather, a touching moment that saw him relinquish his place amid the Guardians to get back in touch with his Earthly origins. Had he bonded with another human prior to this, the impact of his decision would have been diminished by his proximity to another Earthly being.

The MCU’s Future Could Further Prove Cutting Nova From The Guardians Of The Galaxy Was The Right Call

Anticipation For Nova’s MCU Debut Is Now At A Fever Pitch

Nova is one of the MCU’s most anticipated upcoming characters. Recent developments surrounding Nova’s MCU debut suggest that his arrival is “Three or four years out,” according to Marvel Studios head, Kevin Feige. Guardians of the Galaxy is to thank for sparking excitement about Nova’s MCU debut, which is now at a fever pitch ten years after the Nova Corps was introduced. Omitting him from Guardians of the Galaxy and its two sequels has only helped to swell this anticipation.

There is also the fact that Richard Rider shares similar personality traits to Peter Quill, at least initially. Assuming Marvel’s upcoming Nova project will depict Rider’s origins – possibly around the time Thanos decimated Xandar – Quill’s absence will help to make Rider feel like an entirely distinct character. Then there’s the fact that the new iteration of the Quill-deprived Guardians of the Galaxy now has a vacant spot for a replacement, which Rider could fill handily. Whatever the case, I can’t wait to see how Marvel will introduce this long-awaited cosmic character.

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