While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will introduce Namor the Sub-Mariner into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character's actor Tenoch Huerta was originally unaware that he was cast as the Emperor of the Deep due to a Zoom call gone wrong.
Huerta recounted this incident while speaking to Empire Magazine, revealing that he had taken a call from Wakanda Forever's director and co-writer Ryan Coogler. "He said something about a shaman and people suffering a transformation, but something went wrong with the Zoom connection and it froze for about five minutes in the middle of his speech," he added. "Then he was back and he asked me, 'What do you think?' I said, 'Yes, thank you!' It wasn't until my team called me the next day that I found out he was offering me Namor. I was like, 'Holy shit!'"
Namor's Long-Awaited MCU Debut
Huerta previously discussed making his debut as Namor in the film, remarking about his co-stars, "It's a hard relationship. It's not easy. But I love it. As human beings, actors, I love them. A big family. But in the screen, I have to kick their asses... or not." Additionally, Huerta explained why Namor rules Talocan instead of Atlantis in the MCU, and that Namor believes that the late King T'Challa's choice to reveal the truth about the eponymous Wakanda to rest of the world is a problem for Talocan, whose inhabitants decide to do something about it.
Despite the change of nationality for the character, Huerta confirmed that, as in the comics, Namor is a mutant, though this detail has not yet been shared by either Coogler or Marvel Studios President/Marvel CCO Kevin Feige. Huerta also talked about why Namor shouldn't be seen as an Aquaman clone, noting, "In our version, it feels a lot more real than fiction. 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."
Beyond these details, it had recently been revealed that the first Black Panther movie from 2018 almost had a post-credits scene teasing Namor, pitched by Coogler. According to Feige, the scene would have had the camera "[pushing] through the palace in Wakanda," and viewers would then see wet footprints that led up to the throne.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on Nov. 11
Source: Empire