A big rumor hits that Marvel’s Nova may be eyeing Brandon Sklenar for the lead role of Richard Rider in the series.
The rumor comes via Jeff Sneider who says Brandon Sklenar has taken a meeting with Marvel and that Marvel really likes the actor. More below.
Who is Brandon Sklenar?
Brandon Sklenar is the 34-year-old actor from New Jersey (Richard Rider is from Long Island) who stars in Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 as Spencer Dutton.
Sklenar also played Burt Reynolds in The Offer, and is known for Vice, Midway, and Westworld. He’s also starring in Drop along with Meghann Fahy (watch the trailer below which just dropped a week ago).
What does the rumor say?
On The Hot Mic, Sneider said, “He is somebody to keep an eye on for the role of Richard Rider in the Nova series.” Here’s the full quote:
“Brandon Sklenar, who has been booking jobs left and right, I think he is somebody to keep an eye on for the role of Richard Rider in the Nova series.”
“He just wrapped season two of 1923. He has the Paul Feig, Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried movie, The Housemaid, that big package Lionsgate earthquake movie titled After Shock, and he just signed on to do a Skydance movie.
So like he’s busy, and I think that Nova is trying to go in the fall… but keep an eye on him because I think that Marvel’s high on him. I know that he’s had at least a meeting over there. It’s Marvel’s job to meet with all these hot young actors and see ‘oh, would you would you be right for that?'”
“I think he’s probably on a short list for for Richard Rider.”
What about Brandon Sklenar as Batman?
Some fan-castings want Brandon Sklenar as James Gunn’s Batman, but Sneider seems to think a DCU Batman isn’t happening. Sneider previously said Gunn wants Robert Pattinson as the DCU Batman, which means merging the DCU with the Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson Batman universe. Sneider adds he hasn’t heard anything about casting a new DCU Batman for Brave and the Bold (there’s doubt Brave and the Bold is actually happening):
“I’m a casting guy. I haven’t heard of this Brave and Bold. What is that? Is that a movie that someone’s planning to make soon? Because I haven’t heard that. I’m an industry reporter. I’m not aware of this.”
What is Marvel’s Nova about?
Nothing official has been announced by Marvel about the plot but there are hints. It’s thought the MCU will be in part adapting the stellar Marvel Cosmic event Annihilation from 2005/6 and the 2007 Nova series from Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.
“The Nova being developed right now is an amazing ensemble piece. It’s got shades of Trek, shades of Battlestar, but also feels like if you know those comics, you know how heated Richard Rider’s world can get, and it certainly embraces it,” Brad Winderbaum recently said who is the head of Marvel’s Streaming, Television, and Animation.
Ed Bernero is the showrunner behind Nova who is a television writer, producer, and director known for Third Watch, Criminal Minds, and Crossing Lines. He’s also a former Chicago police officer.
Watch the Drop trailer starring Brandon Sklenar:
