No Nova In Guardians Of The Galaxy, Nathan Fillion Could Have Larger Role In Marvel Universe

For several weeks, there have been rumors flying about Nova appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy. One rumor had it that Nathan Fillion might be playing Nova in an after the credits scene. However, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn quickly denied that Nathan Fillion would be Nova.

Of course, Gunn’s first denial left the door open that Nova might still be in the film, played by someone besides Fillion. However, Gunn slammed that door shut as well in an interview with the Nerdist at the Saturn Awards. Gunn clarified, “You won’t see the Nova character in the film. You’ll see the Nova Corps.”

Gunn also once again expressed his frustration over all the Internet rumors about Guardians of the Galaxy. Gunn said, “Nathan Fillion is not Nova. There’s so much bulls*** on the internet. I woke up – first it’s ‘Nathan’s Nova!’, then there are articles all over saying Nathan’s Cosmo. It’s like, ‘What?!’ Nathan’s role is a very small cameo that I wanted to give to Nathan because I love working with him and I think it’s lucky for me to have Nathan in all of my movies. At the same time I wanted to give him something where Nathan could have a larger role in the Marvel Universe if either Joss [Whedon] or I or whoever chose to do that in the future. Which I would love to do. I would love to give Nathan something he could really chew on, but it didn’t work out on this movie for two reasons. Number one — because he was shooting Castle. And number two, because it just wasn’t the right exact role for him.”

While some might be quick to point out the Gunn doesn’t technically deny the Fillion is Cosmo, it should be mentioned that Fillion himself has denied the rumor. A couple days ago, Fillion tweeted, “With so much inaccurate ‘news’ about my involvement in GOTG, I’m actually losing faith in the internet. I’m not Cosmo.”

However, the most interesting new revelation by Gunn is that he wanted to give Fillion a role “where Nathan could have a larger role in the Marvel Universe if either Joss [Whedon] or I or whoever chose to do that in the future.” There are two ways that Gunn’s comments could be interpreted. One possibility is that while Fillion only makes a brief appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, his role has potential to be a major part of the Marvel Universe down the road. The other possibility is that Fillion plays a minor, almost unrecognizable character, so the role would be irrelevant if someone else decided to cast him in a completely different, larger role in the Marvel Universe.

Guardians of the Galaxy is scheduled to be released in movie theaters on August 1, 2014.