Deadline has confirmed that actor John C. Reilly has been cast as Nova Corps leader Rhomann Dey in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn. They had previously reported that he would play Ronan the Accuser, but later retracted this.
In the comics, Rhomann Dey was a leader of the Nova Corps on the planet Xandar. When mortally wounded, he found himself o Earth, where he transferred his powers to Richard Rider, the traditional hero of the Nova comics in the Marvel cosmic universe. The origin story was always a bit similar to that of Green Lantern, so it will be interesting to see if Marvel alters this for the big screen at all.
Deadline had previously reported that Glenn Close was cast in a leadership role within the Nova Corps. While this casting news doesn’t discount an entire corps having more than one leader, we still suspect that Close will be the Xandarian Worldmind, the guide of the Nova Corps and the keeper of the Nova Force that powers its members.
Reilly’s character could also serve as something of an intergalactic Phil Coulson, liaising with the Earth-bound heroes in a wider galactic conflict.
He will join Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan, Benicio del Toro in a recurring role, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Zoe Saldana has been offered Gamora. Ophelia Lovibond, Lee Pace and Michael Rooker are all said to have roles in the space epic.
Guardians of the Galaxy is released on 1 August 2014 from Marvel Studios via Disney.
