I’m Convinced That James Gunn Cutting One Guardians Of The Galaxy Team Member Is What Makes The Trilogy Work

Despite being a member of the team in some of its iterations and a big part of Marvel’s cosmic side, Richard Rider/Nova didn’t make the cut for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s original Guardians lineup included Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot, while subsequent films added Nebula, Mantis, Cosmo, and Kraglin as additional members. Yondu Udonta, a founding Guardian in the comics, featured in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and his film version was more of an antihero.

Though Nova himself was not featured in Guardians of the Galaxy or the broader MCU, the Nova Corps and their homeworld of Xandar were heavily featured in the first film. Since then, audiences have been speculating about when and where the character could crop up. Previously, it was reported that Marvel Studios was in early development on a Disney+ series featuring Nova, with Marvel Studios’ Head of Television Brad Winderbaum saying: “You gotta conjure these things to make them happen, but I would love to see a Nova show one day.“

Unfortunately, the Nova series was placed on indefinite pause as Disney and Marvel reevaluated their content strategy. The difficulties that Richard has faced in making it into the MCU beg the question: why didn’t Nova suit the original Guardians of the Galaxy film lineup? Coincidentally, Gunn has an answer.

James Gunn Cut 1 Member Of The Comic Guardians Of The Galaxy Team (& Explained Why)

Star-Lord Needed To Be Isolated Within The Team

Back in November 2024, the director explained his choice to exclude Nova from Guardians of the Galaxy. User @_jossvillalobos asked Gunn over on Threads: “James, why didn’t you include Nova in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies?” In response, he gave a blunt answer: “I only wanted one human being.” Of note, Star-Lord, who the director is referencing, is only half-human, but neither the audience nor the character knows this during the first movie.

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Interestingly, Gunn’s edict that the team only had one human character also warranted changes to other characters. Both Drax and Mantis have been humans in some comic iterations. This creative choice was likely made in order to heighten Peter’s sense of isolation and prolonged grief for his mother.

I’m Convinced Guardians Of The Galaxy Would Have Been A Weaker Trilogy For More Than One Reason Had Nova Been In The Original Team

A huge element of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films was Star-Lord’s complicated feelings regarding his childhood. Kidnapped by aliens the same day that his mother died of cancer, Peter spent his later childhood and adolescence with Yondu and his team of Ravagers. Though Yondu cared for him as if he were his son, he was selfish, greedy, and not at all forthcoming with his affection.

Gunn choosing to limit the number of human beings in these films emphasized Peter’s loneliness and lack of connection by having him also be othered.

This rough upbringing combined with not knowing his biological father primed Star-Lord to have poor self-worth. Since he is the audience’s point-of-view character in those first movies, this is essential. Gunn choosing to limit the number of human beings in these films emphasized Peter’s loneliness and lack of connection by having him also be othered. It also further contextualizes how susceptible he is to his father Ego’s manipulations.

Beyond its impact on Star-Lord’s arc, the choice not to include more than one human on the team made the MCU feel much larger. Guardians of the Galaxy’s setting was so different from all of the previous Marvel films at that time, which only added to the immersion. Limiting the number of humans onscreen gives the entire movie a more otherwordly charm, distinguishing it from the mostly human cast of The Avengers.

Nova Could Still Join The MCU Guardians Of The Galaxy

The Nova Television Series Being Put On Indefinite Hold May Hasten His Movie Debut

Richard Rider's Nova in Marvel Comics raising his arms

Though omitting Nova from the original Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy was the right move, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t appear in the MCU or even as part of a later iteration of the team. Whether it’s the classic Richard Rider or Sam Alexander version, the character would make a great addition to the franchise. Moreover, the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 sets up a new team consisting of Rocket, Groot, Adam Warlock, Phyla-Vell, and Cosmo—a lineup notably missing a human character.

Tabling the Nova television series is a shame; the character has a lot of fans who’ve been asking for him to join the MCU. However, the choice to shift focus away from quanтιтy and onto quality might present the opportunity for Nova to be used in a film, be it a solo project or a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel.