Nebula (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

• 1. Origins And Creation

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  The comic book version of Nebula first appeared in The Avengers issue number 257, published in July 1985. Writer Roger Stern and artist John Buscema created the character for that specific issue. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige mentioned Guardians of the Galaxy as a potential film at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con. He stated there were some obscure titles like Guardians of the Galaxy that had been revamped recently in a fun way. Feige reiterated this sentiment in a September 2011 issue of Entertainment Weekly. He said there was an opportunity to do a big space epic on the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Feige announced the film was in active development at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con during the Marvel Studios panel. An intended release date of the 1st of August 2014 was set for the project. In July 2013, director James Gunn and the film's cast flew from London to attend San Diego Comic-Con. It was revealed that Karen Gillan would play Nebula. Gillan had previously auditioned for Sharon Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier when invited to read for the role. Gunn declared her test was the favorite out of the film's cast. He described seeing her develop this bald cyber-jerk out of a pretty simple character.

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• 2. Fictional Biography Arc

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  Nebula is one of several children forcibly adopted by Thanos after he killed her family. She was raised alongside Gamora and trained to be a warrior. Thanos often forced them to fight and Gamora was always victorious. After every loss, Thanos would have a piece of Nebula replaced with a cybernetic part, transforming her into a cyborg. In 2014, Nebula and Gamora were dispatched to assist Ronan the Accuser in obtaining the Power Stone. Nebula went to Knowhere and shot her pod down to take the Stone for Ronan. She then fought against Gamora before falling off and escaping in another ship. A few months later, Nebula was captured by members of the Sovereign race as she tried to steal their powerful batteries. When Quill, Gamora, and Drax leave with Quill's father, Ego, Nebula helps the Ravagers capture Yondu Udonta. After finally defeating Gamora in combat, Nebula expressed anger at her for always needing to be better than her instead of just being a loving sister. She and Gamora reconciled and discovered a cavern of corpses. They located Drax and Mantis, where Gamora confronted Mantis after they found a cavern filled with skeletal remains. Following Yondu's funeral, Nebula was offered to join the Guardians of the Galaxy by Gamora but resolved to kill Thanos.

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• 3. Multiversal Variants

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  An alternate variant of Nebula from before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy appears in Avengers: Endgame. In an alternate 2014, Nebula fights Korbinites on Korbin and is joined by Gamora. Before they can leave, however, Nebula begins to malfunction due to the presence of her prime self from the main timeline. Her prime self is captured and Nebula taunts her for having betrayed her Thanos. She is then ordered to replace her prime self and is sent back to the main timeline to prepare for his arrival. Nebula hacks the Quantum Tunnel and brings Thanos and his army to the main timeline. She finds Clint Barton in the Compound's tunnels and tricks him, taking the Nano-Gauntlet from him. She is then confronted by her prime self and Gamora who try to convince her to abandon Thanos. However, she refuses and aims her gun at Gamora, and is killed by the prime Nebula. Several alternate versions of Nebula appear in the animated series What If...? with Gillan reprising her role. In an alternate 2008, Nebula is a close ally and love interest of Star-Lord T'Challa.

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• 4. Performance And Design

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  Gillan researched the ancient Spartans and shaved off her hair before training for two months for the role. The character's makeup took approximately four-and-a-half hours to be applied on the first day of filming. As Gillan and Gunn discussed how to portray the character, Gunn suggested an impression of Marilyn Monroe. He considered her breathy delivery similar to a voice like Clint Eastwood. While Gillan had to shave her head for the first film, she only had to shave half of her head for the sequel. Taking away the underneath part left the top visible. Gillan's makeup took two and a half hours to apply, down from five hours for the first film. In July 2021, Gillan said that director Taika Waititi brought out the bonkers side of Nebula through her pure aggression. In September 2021, Gunn noted that for both Pom Klementieff's Mantis and Gillan's Nebula their roles are both pretty huge in the script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Gillan shared several scenes with Robert Downey Jr., who portrays Tony Stark, in the film's opening. They improvised most of their scenes together.

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• 5. Critical Reception And Legacy

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  Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent felt that the character had all the makings of being a vintage Marvel character but was slightly short-changed. Miles Surrey of The Ringer praised the character saying Nebula's internal conflict is one of the most fascinating threads the MCU has spun over its 20-plus installments. He stated the character was starkly different from virtually everybody in the MCU as a villain-turned-hero. Richard Newby of The Hollywood Reporter also praised the character's depiction describing her as one of the most meaningful considerations of what it means to be both Avenger and human. Her story is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's best and most empowering myths. Awards included nominations for Best Ensemble Cast at the Detroit Film Critics Society and Phoenix Film Critics Society in 2014. She won Best Female Newcomer at Empire Awards in 2015. In 2019 she received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Avengers: Endgame. Later comic interpretations such as a 2020 eponymous miniseries would change her look to appear closer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe interpretation.

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