Nova: Annihilation

Nova: Annihilation is a 2010 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Richard Rider. It is the first theatrical Nova film, while also tying into the Marvel Movie Universe. Directed by Martin Campbell, the film stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Alexa Vega and Dwayne Johnson as well as Jim Carrey, Glenn Close, Vin Diesel and Kevin Spacey. Annihilation was scored by James Newton Howard.

Plot
Teenager Richard Rider (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) falls into a depression when his father dies until he runs into his childhood sweetheart Aya Ayala (Alexa Vega).. When Richard remarks that he's always wanted to skate through San Francisco, Aya manages to get him to get him a skateboard so he could fullfill his wish.

As Richard prepares to skate, an even unfolds high above Earth which will change his destiny forever. Rhomann Dey (Paul Bettany), a Nova, is patrolling the area when his ship is attacked by Annihilus (Manu Bennett), a rogue alien warrior. Annihilus informs Rhomann Dey that he has come looking for “the Xandarian Worldmind” but Rhomann Dey refuses to give it up. He manages to defeat the villain by blasting him with his pkinetic force, knocking him out of the spacecraft. However, the ship is badly damaged and plunges to Earth. Richard detects a mysterious energy entering the area where he is driving. Against the police's orders, he goes to investigate.

At the crash site, Rhomann Dey lies wounded on the ground and knows that he will soon die. He instructs his helmet to find a worthy successor to his role as a Nova. The helmet flies into the seat of Richard's car and teleports him to the crash site, leaving the unmanned craft to crash into the ground. Rhomann Dey explains to Richard the greater role he now plays in the universe before dying. Scared and confused, Richard takes the ring and buries Rhomann Dey's body and ship. When he is found by policemen, Aya is puzzled by Richard's distant demeanor.

Richard returns home and ponders that to do. That night, he finds himself unable to sleep, when suddenly, he is attacked by two more alien beings, also Novas. They capture him and take Richard to the planet Xandar to meet the Centurion Nova Prime herself, Irani Rael (Glenn Close). He learns that those who “collected” him are Rocket (voiced by Jim Carrey), a Nova drill sergeant, and Drax (Dwayne Johnson), a respected senior officer who was a close friend of Rhomann Dey. Rocket is openly confused as to why Rhomann Dey appointed one such as Richard to be his successor.

On Xandar, Richard is brought before Irani, headed by the Nova Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and learns more about the origins of the universe and the Novas. The Corps is currently in the process of investigating Rhomann Dey's death and trying to find the one responsible. Drax, who was the last person Rhomann Dey spoke to via radio before the crash, has a recording of the ship's transmission. However, it only captures Rhomann Dey's last message and doesn't tell them anything about what brought his ship down. Richard reveals the location of Rhomann Dey's body and ship, as the Corps hope to use the on-flight data recorder to learn what transpired in the ship's final moments.

Richard is given a crash course in being a Nova by Rocket, Drax and Gamora (Zoe Saldana), yet another Nova. He learns about combat and how to use the helmet's power to build his armor, produce energy, but more importantly, learns how to fly.

Richard and Drax return to Earth to investigate the crash site. They recover the lost ship and Drax reacts with horror upon reviewing the data recorder, although Richard doesn't understand. They return to Xandar where Drax reveals to Irani and other Novas what happened to Rhomann Dey; he was murdered by Annihilus. When Richard inquires as to who Annihilus is, it is revealed that Annihilus once lived in a peacefull planet until one day, a squad of Skrull invaded and slaughtered his people, with Annihilus being the only survivor. They Skrull's ships were then deactivated and hidden in the Negative Zone, as it was uninhabited and it was unlikely anyone would ever find them. Even if they did, they would need the Xandarian Worldmind to power them up. Annihilus, following the killing of his people, was left to wander deep space for many years, and over that course of time, went insane and became determined to get revenge on the Novas for not helping his planet. They deduce that Annihilus has located the Skrull fleet and is hunting for the Worldmind in order to reactivate them.

Eventually, they come to the conclusion that Rhomann Dei had hidden the Wolrdmind within his Nova helmet itself. However, the armor is nowhere to be found. Drax and Rocket return to Earth to confront Richard, thinking that he kept the helmet for himself, but he insists that he doesn't and that he gave it to Zan Philo (Sharlto Copley). Soon, the trio come to realize that Zan Philo is actually a spy working with Annihilus.

Richard persuades Rocket to take him back to Xandar with he and Drax so that he can aid them somehow, knowing that he was partially responsible for whatever Annihilus is about to do. He joins them on board a flight to the Negative Zone to investigate, where they encounter Zan Philo. During the battle, he reveals that Annihilus has already got what he needed from the ring. Drax takes his sword and cuts Zan Philo' neck off, allowing Richard to reclaim his helmet and blast Zan Philo out of the ship to his death. The trio then race back to Xandar with this new information.

Annihilus, upon learning of Zan Philo' death at Richard's hands, decides to retaliate by launching an asault on Earth. He locates Richard's hometown, San Francisco, and invades with his army of Chitauri. Richard, Drax, Rocket, Gamora and Groot all launch a counter attack and a city wide battle ensues between the two rival factions. During the battle, Richard is reunited with Aya, forcing him to reveal his true identity as a Nova to her. Carl, meanwhile, joins the fight by flying with a fleet of fighter jets and bombaring the Chitauri (although Richard and Aya must first convince them not to attack the other Corps members). However, the arrogant naval officer, Carol Danvers (Yvonne Strahovsky) stationed on a battleship nearby, gives the order to launch a nuclear warhead at San Francisco. Richard spots it while he duels with Annihilus and flies up to intercept it. Annihilus pursues him however and their fight continues. Richard manages to use his helmet's power to grab hold of both the missile and Atnnihilus and fly into the sky, where he launches both of them into Earth's atmosphere. The rocket detonates, destroying Annihilus.

With the Chitauri defeated, the Novas prepare to return to Xandar. Richard finally kisses Aya. They agree to try out a long distance relationship and Richard promises to commute whenever he can. A disgraced Danvers is discharged from the Navy and tasked to the Research Department as all the Nova reunite on Xandar.

In a mid-credits scene, Danvers is at a coffee shop when she encounters a man named Walter Lawson (Zachary Quinto). In a post-credits scene, a news reporter for the Daily Bugle is interviewing a number of people who witnessed the battle. Amongst them are scientist Jackson Day (William Fichtner) and a teenager named Sam Alexander (Dylan O'Brien), who was previously rescued during the battle by Hal.