Tenoch Huerta has reportedly been cast as Namor the Sub-Mariner in Black Panther 2 – here’s how that would affect the movie and the MCU.
Tenoch Huerta is reportedly playing Namor the Sub-Mariner in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – and here’s how the character, and the world of Atlantis, would transform both that film and the MCU as a whole.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been setting up the introduction of Namor the Sub-Mariner for years – an Easter egg in Iron Man 2 appeared to point to the existence of his kingdom, Atlantis, as part of the MCU – but the studio has been reluctant to press ahead because of complicated film rights.
All that appears to be changing, with reports that Tenoch Huerta will play the MCU’s Namor, making his debut in Black Panther 2. Writer and director Ryan Coogler proved a master at world-building in the first Black Panther movie, and no doubt he’s intending to make Atlantis as compelling a location in the MCU as he did Wakanda. There are reports Marvel is looking to cast at least two other Atlantean characters as well, Namor’s cousin Namora and his greatest political rival Attuma, whose plan to steal the throne frequently generates conflict between Atlantis and the surface world. This would mean a film that explores one kingdom, but one that shares the focus between two.
MCU Fans Want Letitia Wright Out of Black Panther 2 Following Vax Controversy
It looks like the future of the Black Panther franchise is in shambles or at least it’s on the verge of it. Following the tragic death of lead star Chadwick Boseman last year.
Marvel Studios was more than determined to honor the late actor’s legacy in the supposed sequel titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, just when the studio finally got the ball rolling with the project, the sequel got plagued with major issues that have affected its production.
For starters, actress Letitia Wright, who is rumored to have a more significant role in Black Panther 2 was recently hospitalized following an on-set injury. Several sources reported that the Shuri actress was immediately released from the hospital following the incident and fans were under the assumption that it wasn’t something serious. Turns out, the injury Letitia sustained was much worse than expected and according to the latest development, she is currently recovering which puts the project on hold until early 2022.
However, some people aren’t buying the new story surrounding the ever-so-controversial actress. If you may recall, Letitia was under fire for reportedly espousing her anti-vaccination beliefs on the set of the MCU epic. This has led a lot of fans to believe that the delay the film is currently experiencing has something to do with the actress’ COVID-19 vaccine controversy.
Taking to Twitter, MCU fans once again campaigned for her to be removed from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and they would have no problem should Marvel recast Shuri.
The first reports of Tenoch Huerta being in talks for Black Panther 2 surfaced back in November 2020, for what was believed to be the film’s principal villain. This would seem to confirm the MCU’s Namor will be an antagonist rather than an ally, who launches an attack upon Wakanda for unknown reasons – perhaps to acquire Vibranium, the precious metal that is both Wakanda’s greatest asset and the reason other world powers would be wise to fear it. The question is whether Namor is a straightforward enemy to Wakanda, or whether he is rather more complex; the reported inclusion of Namora and Attuma points to a focus on Atlantean politics, which means Huerta’s Namor could simply be a vain and proud man who has been manipulated into going to war.