Karen Gillan Addresses Possible MCU Return as Nebula and Confirms Talks With Marvel

We may not have seen the last of Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Karen Gillan has opened up about the possibility of returning to the MCU, and while she isn't giving away any secrets, she did confirm that she's had conversations with Marvel Studios.

Gillan has played Nebula since the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, taking the character from a ruthless villain to one of the franchise's most interesting heroes. With the original Guardians team going their separate ways, fans have been wondering whether Nebula still has a future in the MCU.

During an interview with The Direct, Gillan was asked about potentially reprising her role, and she had some fun dodging the question.

“Maybe…You know I can’t tell you that. I have Marvel snipers on me. I have definitely spoken to them. Whether or not that was about making another appearance or not is a different story. Okay, waffle without saying anything at all. I’m still going. Basically, no spoilers over here.”

That one way to avoid confirming anything! Gillan clearly knows how Marvel operates when it comes to keeping its plans secret, but the fact that she's been talking with the studio is certainly encouraging.

The last time we saw Nebula was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which brought the original team's story to a close. Peter Quill returned to Earth to reconnect with his grandfather, while the alternate-timeline Gamora went her own way after making it clear she wasn't the Gamora the Guardians remembered.

Nebula, meanwhile, remained on Knowhere alongside Drax to help build a better home for its residents. It was a fitting conclusion for a character who had spent so much of her life fighting and trying to earn the approval of Thanos.

There's definitley an opening for Nebula to return. She has connections beyond the Guardians, having fought alongside the Avengers and helped save the universe in Avengers: Endgame. Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, she and Rocket were the only surviving members of the Guardians, giving them an important role in the fight against Thanos.

With Marvel bringing together characters from across the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, either movie could offer an opportunity to bring Nebula back into action.

Of course, she could also appear in another Marvel movie or Disney+ series, including a project that hasn't been announced yet. At this point, there's no confirmation that Gillan will return, and her conversations with Marvel could have been about something entirely different.

I'd love to see Nebula back in the MCU. She's had one of the better character arcs in the MCU, and Gillan has done a great job bringing her to life. It would be cool to see what comes next for her, especially now that she's finally found a purpose beyond fighting someone else's battles.

For now, Gillan is keeping her mouth shut about Marvel's plans, but at least we know the lines of communication are open.

Would you like to see Nebula return in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, or do you think her story ended in the right place with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?