SALT LAKE CITY — “Avengers: Endgame” introduced the long-awaited Marvel comics character Nova, but you probably missed it.
“Avengers: Endgame” directors Anthony and Joe Russo told WIRED this week that the superhero Nova is in the background of the final fight against Thanos in “Endgame.”
In the interview, the Russo brothers read questions from fans. One of the questions is: “how do you guys not have any Nova Corp member in a fight against Thanos? Love the movie, but just boggles my mind. Didn’t even have to be Richard Rider.”
“Look closely at that scene again and you will see,” Joe Russo says.
“There are thousands of people,” Anthony adds.
“You will see Richard Rider in the background of the shot. Easter egg,” Joe Russo told WIRED.
The brothers later confirmed to ComicBook.com that the answer was a joke on their part.
Per ComicBook.com, Rider’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes sense. After all, Thanos destroyed the planet Xandar before “Endgame” so he could receive the Power Stone, which had been left there at the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” In the comics, Rider receives his Xandarian Worldmind power to become Nova when the Nova Corps teams up with Xandar’s only survivor in Rider.
“With five years having passed since Thanos destroyed Xandar, Richard Rider will have more than enough time to become a full-fledged super hero, breaking through his initial lack of desire to do anything of the sort,” according to ComicBook.com.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige told ComicBook.com that Nova is on the planning board for future films.
The Russo Brothers answered several more questions about “Avengers: Endgame” in their interview for WIRED. It’s certainly worth a watch if you’re interested in more details about the film.