Not only was Black Panther one of Marvel Studios’ most financially successful movies to date when it was released in theatres in 2018, but it also had an impact on culture and society in a way that very few other blockbusters have. To begin with, following up on the success of this landmark picture was a difficult task; nevertheless, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was then forced to deal with the passing of Chadwick Boseman, followed by COVID-19. Black Panther 2 was destined to be an important movie from the beginning; it’s a miracle that the sequel is still in production after all these years.
Wakanda Forever is scheduled to hit theatres on November 11, and it will feature director Ryan Coogler reuniting with a large portion of his original cast. This includes Letitia Wright in the role of Shuri, Angela Bassett in the role of Ramonda, Danai Gurira in the role of Okoye, and Winston Duke in the role of M’Baku.
Wakanda Forever is expected to introduce Atlantis and a new Marvel Cinematic Universe villain named Namor the Sub-Mariner in the same way that 2018’s Black Panther explored the hidden society of Wakanda and themes of loss and leadership. This is because Wakanda Forever will also follow in the footsteps of Black Panther.
Black Panther 2’s Namor the Submariner Explained
The first official footage of Namor the Sub-Mariner was shown in the teaser for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was shown during Marvel Studios’ presentation in Hall H at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.
Namor’s full name in the comics was Namor McKenzie, reflecting the fact that he was the product of a human father and the royal princess of the realm of Atlantis. Namor was dubbed “Marvel’s first mutant” by Marvel Comics because to the fact that he has a heritage that allows him to survive in both land and marine environments, in addition to possessing superhuman skills.
Throughout the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it was widely anticipated that Marvel Studios would present a revamped version of this Atlantean king and his underwater country. The first teaser for the film confirmed that this expectation would be fulfilled.
Tenoch Huerta, a Mexican actor, was chosen to play the role of Namor the Sub-Mariner in Marvel Studios’ live-action adaptation of the character.
Namor has been depicted in his comic book run, which began as early as 1939, as a well-intentioned antihero quite a few times. Seeing as how the film appears to show Atlantis and Wakanda at war, it seems that this tradition will continue with Huerta.
The trailer appeared to include flashback sequences in addition to brief views of the actor. One of these clips appeared to show Namor being born with his comic-accurate ankle wings, and another appeared to show a young Namor witnessing skyscrapers burn.
Fans of Marvel were the first to learn that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s interpretation of Atlantis would be influenced by Aztec culture when gifts for the cast and crew of Black Panther 2 included a hat embroidered with Aztec iconography. The hat appeared to depict Tepeyollotli, the Aztec God of darkened caves, earthquakes, and echoes, as well as a jaguar, and it was given as a symbol of Atlantis.
The image below, which depicts Namor wearing a ceremonial headdress, is official evidence of the change that Marvel Studios made to the Sub-Mariner. It also indicates that Marvel audiences will be treated to more world-building that is firmly rooted in cultural history in the upcoming film Wakanda Forever.
Another scene from the teaser shows Huerta’s Namor, who is still wearing his ankle wings, and it appears like he is surrounded by blue-skinned Atlanteans on either side of him.
This is very similar to the way things were depicted in the comics, where the people of Atlantis had blue skin but Namor did not because his father was human.
It is unknown at this time whether or not the history of Namor and the appearance of the Atlanteans will be altered for this picture, or whether or not the Atlanteans will be wearing war paint.
The looming conflict between Wakanda and Atlantis, which features prominently in the comics and serves as a kind of model for the upcoming conflict, is something that cannot be denied.
The connection between Namor and T’Challa was fraught with difficulties. While they did not always see eye to eye, particularly when it came to political matters, they did work together to root out enemies of the kingdoms and find citizens who had gone missing.
Although fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can anticipate strife in Wakanda Forever, this does not guarantee that they will see Namor and the future leader (or leaders) of Wakanda build a relationship of the same kind by the time the movie comes to a close.
You can watch the complete trailer, which includes some video of Namor, down below:
Will Namor Make It Through the Second Part of Black Panther?
Erik Killmonger, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, is frequently seen at the top of the ranks of Marvel Cinematic Universe antagonists. This is due to the fact that Killmonger is aware that he is not completely in the wrong. Although he did not make it through the events of Black Panther, his actions had a significant impact on T’Challa as a person and on the way he controlled Wakanda.
Black Panther 2 appears to have accepted the challenge of presenting a new and relatable antagonist in the form of Namor, the antihero, despite the fact that doing so is difficult. In point of fact, there are reports that imply Marvel Studios has major plans for the Sub-Mariner that extend beyond the sequel that will be released in November and that possibly could lead to a series.
This news suggests that there will be some type of closure between Wakanda and Atlantis, and that Namor will survive this emotionally charged film, despite the fact that war is on the horizon in Wakanda Forever.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see whether upcoming trailers and teasers will reveal more about Namor’s heritage and how he has been adapted from the comics, as well as how his villainous role in the highly anticipated sequel will play a role in Wakanda’s struggle for survival in Black Panther 2.
On November 11, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in theatres for the first time.