Merchandise for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever seemingly revealed the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Namor the Sub-Mariner.
Shared by MCU Facility on Twitter, the artwork appears to depict the Atlantean hero, who has been rumored to make his live-action debut in the upcoming Black Panther sequel. If real, this art could be the first look at the design and costume for the MCU's version of Namor, the Sub-Mariner.
Speculation surrounding Namor's appearance in Wakanda Forever began circulating in June 2021, after a new rumor suggested that Tenoch Huerta (Narcos: Mexico, Spectre) had been cast as the character. The rumor also stated that the film would include Namor's fellow Atlanteans, Namora and Attuma.
Namor's Unconfirmed Role
While Namor's MCU debut has not been officially confirmed by Marvel or Disney, it has been reported that the Sub-Mariner will appear in Wakanda Forever as the film's primary antagonist. In the comics, Namor's kingdom is frequently at war with Wakanda, something teased in a synopsis released for Wakanda Forever, which emphasized Wakanda's abundance of vibranium, something "Namor's human father was sent searching for ...in Antarctica." Also highlighted is the "intertwined history" between Wakanda and the lost city of Atlantis, as both are civilizations that separated themselves from the outside world to protect their respective ways of life.
Created by Bill Everett, Namor, or the Sub-Mariner, first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939 as the King of Atlantis and a mutant. In February 2022, photos leaked from the set of Wakanda Forever fueled further speculation that Namor the Sub-Mariner would appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel. The behind-the-scenes photo showed a camera crew in a large pool of water, seemingly to film scenes featuring Namor and the lost city of Atlantis, which have both been rumored to play a prominent role in the movie.
Namor's introduction into the MCU was teased in 2019's Avengers: Endgame at the mention of "underwater earthquakes," something Endgame writer Christopher Markus would later address in 2020. "Sometimes, you plant seeds. Sometimes, they grow," he said. However, when the theories first began circulating that these underwater earthquakes could point to Namor, Markus said, "I wish we were that smart."
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began filming in Atlanta, GA on June 29, 2021, but production has paused several times since then due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The film serves as a sequel to 2018's Black Panther, which starred the late Chadwick Boseman as King T'Challa/Black Panther. Wakanda Forever's plot was restructured following Boseman's death in 2020.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on Nov. 11, 2022.
Source: Twitter