Ryan Coogler, director and co-writer of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, described bringing the unique look of Namor to life.
Coogler discussed adapting the Sub-Mariner's eclectic aesthetic to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Entertainment Weekly. "I think with making these types of movies, you've got to lean into the weird stuff, or you risk missing what makes it fun," he explained. "He's got really unique features and things that don't necessarily go together. He can breathe underwater, obviously, but he's got these little wings on his ankles. He's got pointy ears and walks around in his underwear. It's all fun, man."
In the newly released trailer for Wakanda Forever, M'Baku (Winston Duke) says Namor's people call him "K'uk'ulkan, the feathered serpent god," referencing the character's new origins in Mesoamerican mythology. This change was made partially to separate Namor from DC's Aquaman, who already hailed from the Greek-inspired kingdom of Atlantis. In Wakanda Forever, Namor is played by Tenoch Huerta (who learned the Mayan language for the role) and will rule over the underwater city of Talocan. Coogler described both cities as "El Dorado" -- advanced civilizations "hiding in plain sight."
A Whole New Namor
Duke previously discussed how Coogler's take on Namor, despite his fantastical origins and accouterments, is still grounded and believable. "In our version, it feels a lot more real than fiction," he said. "In the MCU fashion, we’ve grounded it in real cultural significance and cultural traditions. You see the Latinx contingent that is present visually. Ryan Coogler’s creation within the Marvel cinematic landscape is one of deep honor and connection to real stuff. So I think a lot of people are gonna see themselves represented."
Namor was originally intended to be teased during the post-credits stinger of Black Panther, but this idea was eventually scrapped. Instead, Namor will appear in Wakanda Forever as an anti-hero to take on the kingdom of Wakanda. Huerta said that King T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) decision to reveal his nation's true nature to the world at the end of the first film will act as the inciting incident for the sequel. "That decision puts Talocan in jeopardy," Huerta explains. "And Talocan has to take action to protect themselves." Additionally, Huerta confirmed that Wakanda Forever's Namor, like his comic book counterpart, will be a mutant, bringing another element of the X-Men franchise to the MCU before they make their official debut.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever lands in theaters on Nov. 11.
Source: Entertainment Weekly