The multiple trailers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirms that the nations of Wakanda and Talokan will be at war in the next MCU film, though the exact cause of the war in Black Panther 2 remains unclear. Debuting Namor, the King of the Seas from in Marvel Comics, it's evident from the Wakanda Forver pre-release footage that he and his people have a major vendetta with Black Panther's African nation. While there is still plenty of mysteries to be unfurled, the clips used in the many Black Panther 2 trailers do provide a few key details which may reveal the source of the tensions leading up to the Wakanda Forever war.
Despite often being depicted as an anti-hero in the comics as the King of Atlantis, the MCU's version of Namor leads Talokan, and will likely be more misguided in his war with Wakanda. Whether it's through some slight Wakanda is unjustly blamed for or a third party working behind the scenes against both nations, the odds are strong that the conflict in Wakanda Forever will resemble Captain America: Civil War, where the Avengers were manipulated into fighting each other by Baron Zemo before learning the truth. Here's a rundown of what the trailers reveal about the Wakanda-Talokan war in Black Panther 2.
How Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Trailers Tease The Cause Of War
Following the scenes in the trailers depicting T'Challa's funeral, Namor is officially introduced to the MCU. Wearing an Aztec-inspired version of his costume from the comics, the half-human, half-Talokan warrior is seen leading several blue-skinned Talokanils into battle on what looks to be the shores of Wakanda. Riding whales and flooding the throne room of Wakanda itself, it's clear that Namor is prepared to end the powerful nation once and for all. One of the most intense moments of the Wakanda Forever war revealed in the trailers sees Wakanda's Dora Milaje leaping down to engage in battle with multiple Talokan warriors who are presumably infiltrating the African nation. It's not clear who starts the conflict, but it's obvious at some point Talokan takes the fight to Wakanda.
However, the primary clues about the initial cause of the war in Black Panther 2 are the shots featuring some sort of Wakandan facility or lab disguised as an oil rig sitting in the middle of the ocean. As such, Wakanda may be potentially searching for more vibranium in the sea, or even a means to regrow the heart-shaped herb which gives the Black Panther their power (which were all destroyed by Killmonger in the first Black Panther). Either way, this facility could potentially be seen as an intrusion upon Namor's kingdom, especially if something disastrous occurs — with the facility appearing to be attacked by unknown soldiers.
Who is Black Panther 2's Secret Villain?
One name has been given, and it comes with great fear: K'uk'ulkan, the feather serpent god, aka Namor. While the identities of the soldiers depicted in the trailers are currently unknown, their attack looks to be one of purpose, as they are seen coercing Wakandans to unlock some sort of high-tech device. This could warrant a response from Talokan if it proves a threat to Namor and his undersea nation. As such, Wakanda could easily be blamed if an incident occurs. This could be precisely what some yet-to-be-revealed villain wants: creating war and damaging relations between the world's most powerful nations in a Talokan vs Wakanda battle.
The classic Namor villain Attuma has been confirmed for Wakanda Forever and could certainly be the one manipulating events behind the scenes. Desiring the crown of Talokan for himself, Attuma could be presented as an ally to Namor, who secretly wants to take his place following his potential death in a battle with Wakanda's warriors. However, these soldiers attacking the base are human. As such, it's possible that a rival nation such as Latveria could be behind the attack on the orders of Doctor Doom, providing a dynamic MCU debut for the Fantastic Four villain and dictator of the European nation. Likewise, Attuma and Doctor Doom have joined forces in the comics before. Perhaps by working together, they'll hope to eliminate both Wakanda and Namor (who looks very different from his people) simultaneously. While this is all just conjecture and theory at the moment, a nefarious third party or secret villain will likely be the true cause of the conflict in Wakanda Forever.
Why Atlantis Was Changed To Talokan For The MCU
The conflict in Wakanda Forever isn't new to the comic world, as war between Wakanda and Atlantis has been depicted many times before. However, why was Atlantis changed to Talokan for the MCU? In general, the Black Panther movies have deviated from their comic book origins from time to time, and it looks like the character Namor has been changed from his graphic novel counterpart quite a bit. Studios took a different approach in designing Atlantis/Talokan, focusing in on the culture and history of Mesoamerica. When the question arose as to whether to make the Black Panther city be inspired by a real culture versus a Greek myth like that of Eternals, the MCU chose the former. Talokan pops up in Mesoamerican manuscripts and is described as a "paradise." Mesoamerican beliefs dictated that when someone dies from lightning or drowning, they rest in the Aztec paradise known as Tlālōcān.
Actor Tenoch Huerta, who will be playing Namor in the movie, has revealed his thoughts on the reason behind the conflict in Wakanda Forever. In an interview with Empire, Huerta explained that the reason behind the Talokan war in Black Panther 2 has to do with T'Challa. Once T'Challa revealed the truth of Wakanda to the world, Huerta believes that it posed a real threat to Talokan. "That decision puts Talokan in jeopardy, and Talokan has to take action to protect themselves," the actor surmised. The MCU has heard the cries of the masses begging for more diversity within their programming with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Incorporating Mesoamerican culture, rather than yet another Greek myth, was the right call on the studio's part, as it's a society steeped in history which is rarely explored in television and movies. It'll be intriguing to see where the MCU goes when tackling Mesoamerican mythos, making the unveiling of Talokan and Namor that much better.
