We're not sure how many of you will remember this, but when Captain America: The First Avenger was being shot, set photos finding their way online was a regular occurrence.
We got to see Chris Evans in action as Steve Rogers, chasing down the HYDRA operative who killed Abraham Erskine, though the movie being shot near the water led to speculation and rumours that moment would actually serve as the MCU debut of Namor the Submariner. After all, his comic book counterpart has a WWII history and...they were shooting by water!
Needless to say, the theories and rumours didn't pan out, and the King of Atlantis was neither an Invader nor Howling Commando in the 2011 movie. Ever since then, we've been waiting for Namor to make his presence felt, and it finally happens in this month's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
It's been a long wait, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has now explained why.
"Namor as the Marvel fans know, is of one, if not the original...and so that, forever, has been on our lists," he started. "I remember 18 years ago putting together, I think we even commissioned a script 18 years ago, and the timing was never right and the idea was never right."
"Ryan Coogler on the first movie starting pitching a war between kingdoms," Feige continued. "And if you actually added cultural specificity to Namor, and that's certainly what he's done in this movie, and it's not Atlantis it's Talocan and I can't wait for people to meet the Talocaneal and Namor."
We're definitely getting a very different take on Namor in the MCU, though that's exciting on a number of levels. With a new history, the anti-hero has been grounded in reality and promises to be more than just "Marvel's Aquaman." Based on early reactions, all signs point to the long wait for his live-action debut having been worth it.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November 11.