Marvel Writer Pitches Glen Powell for Cosmic Hero Nova

As of October 2025, actor Glen Powell has taken on a variety of roles, from aviators to professors, but he has yet to portray a superhero. This is somewhat surprising given Powell's leading man status and his affinity for big-budget movies. However, one of the writers behind the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars films, Michael Waldron, believes he has the perfect role for Powell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Waldron, who has been closely associated with the MCU in recent years thanks to his work on Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is a fan of the Nova character. The cosmic hero has been a long-awaited addition to the MCU, and Waldron thinks Powell would be well-suited to play the Richard Rider iteration of the character. Introduced in the 1970s, Rider is a young man who inherits the powers of a dying Nova Corpsman.

While the future of a Nova project at Marvel Studios remains uncertain, with reports of a Disney+ series being shelved, Waldron's pitch for Powell could potentially bring the character to life on the big screen. The actor's talents and leading man charisma make him an intriguing choice to don the blue armor and gold helmet of the beloved cosmic crusader.