Marvel Comics fans have been waiting a long time for the big-screen debut of aquatic hero/antihero Namor, The Sub-Mariner, and the character will finally make his presence felt in the MCU when he's introduced as the main villain in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
While speaking to Empire, director Ryan Coogler reveals that he views Namor as a "dream antagonist" for the sequel because “the contrast between T’Challa and Namor – their characters, and their nations – just leaps off the page.”
Of course, T'Challa won't actually be a part of Wakanda Forever following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, but his legacy will carry on, and a new character (most likely Letitia Wright's Shuri) will take up the mantle of Black Panther to protect Wakanda from Namor and his armies.
The Sub-Mariner is often referred to as Marvel's first mutant, and while there's been some debate about his canonical origins over the years, Tenoch Huerta has now confirmed that his take on the character will follow suit.
He doesn't elaborate, but it'll obviously be interesting to see if this has any ramifications for the MCU moving forward.
We do know that Namor will be "drawn to the surface by the ramifications of T’Challa’s decision in Black Panther’s final reel to reveal the truth of Wakanda to the world." “That decision puts Talocan in jeopardy,” says the actor. “And Talocan has to take action to protect themselves.”
Check out a new image of Huerta as The Savage Sub-Mariner at the link below.
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livanalli.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11.