Despite the hopes of fans, one of Marvel's earliest heroes, Namor the Sub-Mariner, has yet to make the leap to the big screen. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige indicates that could change.While attending a special reception and screening for Black Panther in Los Angeles, journalist Erick Weber asked Feige about that status of Namor, whose rights could charitably be described as complicated. However, according to Weber, the studio president said the aquatic antihero could appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's only a matter of if and when.RELATED: Kevin Feige Explains Namor’s Complicated Movie Rights Situation

Feige previously explained the Namor film rights are not "as a clean or clear as the majority of the other characters," owing to previous contracts with producers and studios, most likely dating back to the 1990s.

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Feige has long expressed his desire to bring Namor into the fold, especially since Universal Pictures' license expired, and he has gone so far as to add Namor Easter eggs in Iron Man 2. With Weber's tweet, patient fans might find themselves feeling a bit more optimistic about the possibility of seeing the character joining the MCU.

It remains to be seen just what Feige means by saying Namor "could" make an appearance, whether that's as a part of the Avengers or in a solo film or other project.