Inside Scoop: What ‘Nova,’ ‘Strange Academy,’ & ‘Terror, Inc.’ Could’ve Been If Marvel Didn’t Hit Pause

Earlier today news broke that Marvel Studios is hitting pause on three shows that were apparently in development, Nova, Strange Academy, and Terror, Inc. The reasons cited are general shifts in development strategy.

This shift in direction is part of a larger change in how Marvel approaches television. Unlike the past, where series development was handled like movie productions—with a list of announced projects almost guaranteed to be made—Marvel now follows a more traditional TV development process. This new model means the studio is working on many more ideas than will actually make it to the screen.

This change comes after Marvel’s leadership decided to rethink how it develops shows, especially as they rework the Daredevil: Born Again series. The idea is to be more cautious, focusing on a smaller number of projects to avoid over-saturating the market with superhero content.

Now industry insider, Daniel Richtman shared what the shows were supposed to be about before their development was halted.

The Nova show was planned to be led by Ed Bernero, a writer and producer known for Criminal Minds. The story would have focused on Richard Rider, the hero Nova, in the aftermath of Thanos’ attack on Xandar. Following the destruction of his home planet, Rider would take on the responsibility of rebuilding the Nova Corps, an elite intergalactic force. As Rider tries to restore the Corps, he would face the threat of Annihilus and his destructive Annihilation Wave, which would threaten the universe. Rider’s team would include other Novas, such as Sam Alexander (a younger Nova character), along with some new, original characters in their 20s.

The show was also eyeing big names like Austin Butler to play Richard Rider, and it had plans for Glenn Close and John C. Reilly to reprise their roles from the Guardians of the Galaxy films. They would return as Nova Corps characters, adding continuity with the established Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Strange Academy show was set to be directed by Amy Rardin, known for her work on Echo. In this series, Wong (played by Benedict Wong) would take center stage as the headmaster of a magical school based in New Orleans. The show would follow Wong’s efforts to train a new generation of young sorcerers, helping them develop their magical abilities. Among the students would be characters like America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez), who is known for her multiverse-traveling powers, and Zelma Stanton (played by Regan Aliyah), another young sorcerer from the comics.

The concept of Strange Academy was pitched as Marvel’s take on the popular “wizarding school” genre, drawing comparisons to Harry Potter and Netflix’s Wednesday. It would have focused on magic, mystical adventures, and the challenges of being a young sorcerer under Wong’s mentorship, blending the supernatural with the high-energy, coming-of-age drama that’s common in shows like Harry Potter.

The Terror Inc. show was being developed by Peter Cameron, who worked on Carnival Row and WandaVision. The series was going to be very different from other Marvel shows, leaning heavily into horror. It would have followed the character Terror, an immortal antihero with a unique and gruesome ability: he can attach the body parts of others to himself, gaining their abilities, memories, and powers in the process.

This dark, mature-themed series was described as a full-on horror show, designed for an adult audience. The show would have explored Terror’s violent and unsettling way of gaining power and the consequences that come with it. Additionally, there were rumors that Terror was set to be part of the Midnight Sons film, a darker Marvel project that was previously in development, suggesting that this character could have tied into a broader, supernatural side of the MCU.

Finally, Richtman concluded his report with the following:

So why the pause? Marvel is taking a different approach now. They won’t greenlight a series until they see a pilot they’re satisfied with. They also want to focus on grounded, and cheaper shows.

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