The much-awaited Nova series is reportedly canceled for the time being as Marvel Studios will be diverting their attention to other projects. The planned Disney+ show potentially sees Baywatch’s Zac Efron in the titular role, who is also a fan-favorite choice for the character.
The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe challenged a lot of controversies following the onslaught of numerous content that delivered underwhelming performance and less-than-stellar quality. Nova’s rumored cancellation could be a good sign that another character has been spared from destruction.
Upcoming Disney+ Show Nova Reportedly Gets Abandoned Due To Budget Cuts
A tweet by industry insider MyTimeToShineHello revealed the Disney+ Nova series is reportedly scrapped. The studio has now diverted its focus to other important projects and will get back to it when the time is right. Check out the tweet below:
The Nova show has been scrapped. They are now focusing on other stuff and will get back to Nova down the line. https://t.co/19nYNA2Tmp
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) August 10, 2023
There is no reason provided in this statement, but it is safe to assume that it is because Disney CEO Bob Iger pulled back on Marvel. The Nova series could be too expensive for the studio, hence why the executive wanted to spend less and trim down their roster of projects.
Iger will oversee the company through 2026, and confirmed in an interview with CNBC that the expansion of MCU and Star Wars properties through the Disney+ platform is creating a problem for both viewers and the studio:
“In our zeal to basically grow our content significantly and to serve mostly our streaming offerings, we ended up taxing our people, way beyond, in terms of their time and their focus, way beyond where they had been.”
He specifically mentioned Marvel as the best case of this matter:
“Marvel is a great example of that. They had not been in the TV business at any significant level. Not only did they increase their movie output, but they ended up making a number of television series, and frankly, it diluted focus and attention. I think you are seeing that is more the cause than anything else.”
The host clarified what Iger wanted to express in his response, asking if Marvel and Star Wars contents are “too much”:
“Yeah, you pull back not just the focus, but it’s part of our cost containment initiative. Spending less on what we make and making less.”
It seems that Nova won’t be making his debut appearance in the MCU anytime soon. The character could have made his introduction anywhere after the Infinity War saga, and even gone toe-to-toe against Thanos. Nevertheless, the character will soon find its way into the heart of the MCU at the perfect time.
Zac Efron Won’t Be Turning Into A Marvel Hero For The Meantime
Unfortunately for High School Musical alumnus Zac Efron, he won’t be joining the MCU despite previously expressing interest in the franchise. Fans have been actively campaigning for the actor to snag the role of Nova. He told Extra TV:
“I love the Marvel universe. I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I started walking. If the right character comes along, and they want me to jump in, I would jump at the opportunity.”
It remains unknown when Marvel Studios will get to tackle the much-awaited live-action Nova series, but fans will surely hear more updates on this page regarding upcoming MCU and Disney+ projects.
Sources: Twitter, CNBC, Extra TV
