Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Nova

  • Ryan Gosling Interested in playing Ghost Rider

    Ryan Gosling in 'The Gray Man.'
    Ryan Gosling in ‘The Gray Man.’ Photo: Paul Abell/Netflix © 2022.

    Sooner or later, every actor will probably end up playing a role ( or at least having a cameo in) a Marvel Cinematic Universe production on either the big or small screens.

    When the first word arrived about Marvel developing the character of Nova as a potential movie or Disney+ TV series, there was follow-up speculation that Ryan Gosling could be playing the energy powered space-based law enforcer also known as Richard Ryder.

    Gosling, however, recently spoke to Joshua Horowitz for his ‘Happy Sad Confused’ Podcast, and when the subject of the Nova speculation was brought up, Gosling shot down the rumors, denying he was connected with the character.

    Yet he later got in touch with Horowitz and admitted that if he is going to end up becoming a super-powered character, he’s interested in Ghost Rider.

    The character, at least with the alter ego Johnny Blaze, first appeared in the pages of Marvel Comics via ‘Marvel Spotlight #5’.

    Created by Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog, the Blaze character is a motorcycle stunt performer who strikes a deal with the demon Mephisto in order save the life of his surrogate father Crash Simpson.

    This Faustian pact bonds Johnny to Zarathos, the Spirit of Vengeance. Through that connection, he’s granted the power to control Hellfire, and inflicts pain on wrongdoers using the Penance Stare.

    Nicolas Cage in 2007's 'Ghost Rider.'
    Nicolas Cage in 2007’s ‘Ghost Rider.’

    Blaze also has a fiery chain and rides a Hell Cycle, his head aflame when he’s in full-on Ghost Rider mode.

    In movies, the character has been brought to the screen twice by Nicolas Cage, who starred in 2007’s ‘Ghost Rider’, directed by Mark Steven Johnson and 2011’s ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’, by Neveldine and Taylor.

    Neither film exactly set the critical response alight, so there is plenty of scope for a re-invention.

    On the small-screen front, a different version of the Rider character, Robbie Reyes (originating in ‘All New Ghost Rider #1 comic and created by Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore) appeared on ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., played by Gabriel Luna.

    Given that the series is no longer considered truly canon for the MCU, it seems unlikely that Luna’s take on the character will make it across to Disney+. And if Cage wanted to come back, Marvel might consider that, but should the company have a shot at securing Gosling’s services, we’re sure the team would jump at the chance.

    For now, this exists primarily in the rumor sphere: Gosling hasn’t confirmed any official meetings with Marvel and the Kevin Feige’s team naturally won’t comment on the concept until they are ready to announce (though Comic-Con is coming up in a couple of weeks).

    Next up for Gosling is Netflix’s action thriller ‘The Gray Man’, which will be on limited release from July 15th before landing on the streaming service on July 22nd.

    He’s also been at work on Warner Bros.’ ‘Barbie’ alongside Margot Robbie, with that film due on July 21st next year.

    Ryan Gosling as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie.'
    Ryan Gosling as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jaap Buitendijk. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • Marvel Looking to Launch ‘Nova’ for Movies or TV

    Marvel's Nova
    Marvel’s Nova. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

    You might think that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already crammed with characters across its many movies and TV series, but that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the overflowing pages of Marvel comics.

    And with some major characters being retired as actors decide to leave the roles behind (yes, we know, the Multiverse means the various popular choices can always return in new forms), Marvel boss Kevin Feige and his team are busy introducing a pack of new powerful people.

    According to Deadline, the character of Nova is set to join the MCU via a new movie or TV series. In true Marvel fashion, nothing has been announced or confirmed, nor has the site’s sources learned whether it’ll be on the big or small screen.

    The only concrete detail right now appears to be that Sabir Pirzada, one of the writers on ‘Moon Knight’, has been tasked with a ‘Nova’ project.

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    Nova, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Buscema, is a human with the real name Richard Rider. A normal young man randomly selected by Rhomann Dey to be a member of the Nova Corps as the rest of them were dying. Quickly embracing his newfound powers, he jumps into action and becomes a charismatic, powerful force for justice across the galaxy. The character has been around since the late 1960s with the more popular Rider version debuting in 1976’s ‘The Man Called Nova #1’

    In his time, he’s had the usual deep storyline history, losing his powers at one point, and working odd jobs before being thrown (literally, off a building) back into the superhero life and joining the New Warriors. He’s also seen a personality shift from an earlier, quippier, Peter Parker style of backchat with baddies to a darker mood following some massive tragedies.

    Oh, and his Nova uniform includes a music library, which could be an interesting quirk – though given that a certain MCU character is known for his music (see below), that might not end up on screen.

    How Rider might be introduced into the MCU is unknown at this point. There’s always a chance he could be stealthily launched in some other project – he played a big part in the ‘Secret Invasion’ storyline and that series is on the way featuring Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and ‘Captain Marvel’ veteran Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Thanos.

    But then there’s also ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘ and its ‘Holiday Special.’ Nova’s closest connections have been with the Nova Force and its intergalactic powers, and James Gunn is on record as a big fan of the character. Still, while he’s said in the past that he didn’t want to use Rider to keep Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord as the only human in the ‘Guardians’ movies, that could all change with the third movie promising big shifts in the line-up.

    However he makes his debut – whether that is in someone else’s show/movie or with a full launch in an origin story – Nova is certainly a character that fans have been looking forward to seeing. And it’s yet another sign that Marvel is going more and more cosmic with its character choices.

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe
    Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe.