Black Panther: Wakanda Forever editor Michael P. Shawver recently explained why the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster pulled back on Shuri and Namor's romantic connection.

Shawver, who edited the movie along with Kelley Dixon and Jennifer Lame, discussed the Shuri/Namor dynamic in an interview with Newsweek. "I think what's really interesting is there were takes where there was some connection there," he said. "And at one point in an early cut we discussed like, 'Hey, do we leave it there? Do we just put it out there? Let's just add some complexity to the relationship.' But then you've got to watch out for portraying, for example, Shuri flirting to get what she wants as opposed to being a diplomatic leader and becoming the leader that she needs to be, that she'll get to at the end."

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"So what we ultimately focused on was Namor's line where he says 'Only the most damaged people can be truly great leaders,'" Shawver continued. "And that's planting the seed of the shared trauma that she realizes at the end [of the film]." The editor then went on to say that Namor "sort of became [a] big brother" to Shuri due to their shared experiences and the similarities between their respective cultures, Wakanda and Talokan. He also noted the presence of "a shared cultural trauma between his people and her people... [and] what she lost at the beginning he started to fill that void, and that felt the most genuine to the characters."

Black Panther 2 Star Downplays Shuri/Namor Romance

Shawver isn't the first member of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's cast and crew to downplay the romantic tension between Shuri and Namor. Notably, Namor himself Tenoch Huerta recently insisted that the chemistry between the pair was intended to represent "a human, intimate touch" rather than anything more amorous. Like Shawver, Heurta also said that the bond between Shuri and Namor was derived primarily from Wakanda and Talokan's similar histories and the threats both kingdoms face from the outside world.

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Huerta shooting down the Shuri/Namor romance leaves room for the MCU to explore the ruler of Talokan's love life in future projects, and the star is openly keen to headline a solo Namor film. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore recently cast doubt on the likelihood of a Namor movie happening, though, as the character is tied up in similar rights-related issues as fellow MCU heavy-hitter The Hulk.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in theaters now.

Source: Newsweek