Marvel might not be finished with Nebula after all. More than three years after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gave Karen Gillan’s character what appeared to be a conclusion, the actress has confirmed that she’s been speaking with Marvel Studios again. She hasn’t revealed what those conversations involved, but with the MCU approaching Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, there’s reason to wonder whether Nebula could return. And if she does, her next appearance might have nothing to do with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Karen Gillan confirms she’s been talking to Marvel
While promoting her upcoming comedy Let’s Have Kids, Gillan spoke with The Direct about the possibility of reprising Nebula in a future Marvel project. Asked whether she’d had conversations with Marvel about another appearance, the actress avoided giving a direct answer. She joked about Marvel’s reputation for keeping its projects secret before admitting that she had been in contact with the studio.
Gillan confirmed that she’d spoken with Marvel, but avoided saying whether those discussions involved another appearance as Nebula. She ended her response by making it clear that she wasn’t going to reveal any spoilers. It’s the sort of answer that gives fans something to speculate about, although her comments don’t confirm that she’s returning to the MCU.
That distinction matters because actors can remain in contact with studios without necessarily signing on for another movie. Gillan hasn’t announced a new project, and Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed Nebula for either upcoming Avengers installment. However, her comments establish that she’s still communicating with the studio, even if the purpose of those conversations remains unknown.
Nebula’s story didn’t end with Guardians 3
Nebula underwent considerable changes throughout James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. She began as Thanos’ ruthless adopted daughter, driven by resentment toward Gamora and years of abuse at the hands of the Mad Titan. By the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she’d become someone interested in building a home and protecting others rather than surviving through violence.
The movie’s conclusion saw the original Guardians team separate to pursue different futures. Peter Quill returned to Earth, Mantis embarked on her own journey, and Rocket assumed leadership of a new Guardians lineup. Nebula chose to remain on Knowhere alongside Drax, helping establish a community for the children rescued from the High Evolutionary.
It was a peaceful destination for someone who had spent most of her life surrounded by conflict. But unlike Gamora’s departure or Peter’s return to Earth, Nebula’s new responsibility leaves room for further stories. She hasn’t retired from the galaxy or disappeared from the MCU. She’s now responsible for protecting a vulnerable community in a universe where dangerous threats still exist.
That’s one reason we’d be interested in seeing her return. Marvel wouldn’t necessarily need to reverse her character development or bring the original Guardians back together. Instead, Nebula could return as a leader with different responsibilities and priorities, allowing Gillan to explore how the character has changed since her earlier appearances.
Avengers: Secret Wars could bring Nebula back
One possibility is another Avengers crossover. Nebula played an important role in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, becoming one of the surviving heroes after Thanos eliminated half of all life. Her connection to the Avengers extended beyond fighting alongside them, particularly through the time she spent with Tony Stark and Rocket.
That history could give Marvel a reason to include her if additional cosmic heroes become involved in the next multiverse storyline. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars is currently planned for December 17, 2027. Both movies could feature familiar MCU characters, although Nebula’s involvement in either production remains unconfirmed.
Secret Wars is another possibility because its multiversal premise could accommodate characters whose individual franchises have already reached their conclusions. Marvel has previously brought older heroes back without necessarily developing another complete trilogy around them. Nebula could participate in a larger cosmic conflict without requiring the studio to undo the ending she received in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
However, there is currently no reliable evidence that Gillan’s conversations with Marvel specifically concern Secret Wars. We wouldn’t treat her comments as a casting announcement or assume she’s secretly filmed an appearance for Doomsday. These possibilities come from the MCU’s existing storylines rather than any confirmed information about Gillan’s next project.
Marvel could give Nebula a different future
While another Avengers appearance would make sense, we’d be more interested in seeing Marvel explore Nebula outside another large ensemble. Her development from Thanos’ daughter into Knowhere’s protector provides material for a more personal story. Instead of another mission to defeat a universe-threatening villain, Marvel could explore a conflict that forces Nebula to balance her responsibilities as a leader with the ruthless instincts she developed over the years.
There’s also unfinished emotional material involving Gamora. The alternate-timeline version introduced in Avengers: Endgame never shared the same childhood experiences or reconciliation that defined Nebula’s relationship with her original sister. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 acknowledged that difference, but it didn’t fully explore what their relationship might become after the Guardians disbanded.
Another possibility involves Rocket’s new Guardians team. With Rocket leading Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock and Phyla, the franchise already has a replacement lineup capable of future adventures. Nebula’s proximity to that group through Knowhere means Marvel could bring her back without having to reunite the entire original team.
Marvel could also bring Nebula back through animation. Gillan previously returned to voice an alternate version of Nebula in What If…?, including a detective-inspired storyline involving the Nova Corps. That appearance showed how the character could work in stories that differ considerably from her established live-action circumstances. Another animated project could explore a different version of Nebula without changing where her main MCU story currently stands.
Why Marvel could keep Nebula around
One reason Nebula could return is that her story has moved beyond the redemption arc that defined much of her earlier development. She isn’t searching for forgiveness, trying to escape Thanos or competing with Gamora anymore. She’s reached a point where her decisions can be influenced by responsibilities beyond the trauma that dominated her early life.
That creates opportunities for a character who has been part of the MCU since 2014. Many long-running Marvel heroes eventually return to familiar conflicts, but Nebula’s circumstances have changed enough to support a different kind of story. A future appearance could examine whether someone raised to be a weapon can become a protector without returning to the behaviour that once defined her.
Gillan’s latest comments don’t guarantee that Marvel intends to explore any of these possibilities. They confirm that the actress remains in contact with the studio, but neither Gillan nor Marvel has announced another appearance for Nebula. Whether she returns through an Avengers crossover, another Guardians adventure or a different project remains uncertain. If Marvel does bring her back, we’d prefer to see a story that develops her responsibilities on Knowhere rather than one that relies on her earlier conflicts.
Source: The Direct
