Things are looking up for Marvel’s favorite underwater superhero. Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada recently confirmed that the rights to Namor, the master of all things submarine, most likely belong to Marvel, paving the way for the character to become a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Infinity War writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus already expressed their interest in employing the contentious water-lord in their stable. If all things are above board, it could only be a matter of time before the Submariner gets his MCU due.

Less than a day after Namor’s semi-official reentry into the House of Ideas, the underwater antihero already has some interested parties.

Brian Tee, fresh off his first round as Ninja Turtle nemesis Shredder, cast his swim fins into the potential actor pool. Recently, the actor spoke with Entertainment Tonight (via Comic Book) about his villainous role in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. During the interview, the actor was queried about his dream project. Although he played coy at first, expounding on the need for more choice roles for Asian-Americans and people of color, he did eventually relent. The actor said he’d be interested in the aquatic anti-hero:

This is what: Just saying, Marvel Studios just picked up the rights to Namor, who is the Submariner, and I would love to play the Submariner. I grew up as a comic geek and the Submariner is one of my childhood's fondest superheroes. I feel like I can play him! If there is one role, right now, that I would love to play, it would be Namor.”

His interest in the role even caused a minor Twitter storm surge under the #BrianTeeAsNamor. Take a look below:

Hey, @brian_tee this is not a moment, it's a movement! “@MisfitsTamara: c'mon. Brian Tee as Namor. It just works. pic.twitter.com/Nhzolevj6g”— phillamarr (@phillamarr) June 3, 2016

As far as Namor goes, Tee certainly already has plenty of comic book antagonism to his name. Aside from playing Turtle baddie Shredder in the reboot's sequel – which apparently fulfilled a life-long dream (Tee was Shredder for Halloween as a child) – the actor also squared off with Logan in The Wolverine. In addition, Tee embodied the villainous Drift King (or D.K.) in The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. His villain pedigree certainly gives him a leg up on the potentially combative role.

Of course, Namor isn’t actually a straightforward villain. The Submariner has an on-again off-again role as an Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Defenders team member. He also traded blows with various Marvel characters, in addition to being an outright antagonist to the surface world at times. Nevertheless, Tee’s capabilities as an actor and his physical prowess make him an excellent choice to play the son of a sea captain and a mermaid princess. Watching Tee, as Namor, mobilize the undersea forces into the battle against Thanos would be a pretty impressive sequence at some point in the two-part Infinity War spectacle.

Namor the Sub Mariner

All speculation aside, Disney may still have a few hoops to jump through before Namor takes his rightful place in the MCU. Despite Quesada’s relative certainty, the rights could still rest with Universal, like those of the Hulk. But if Namor does reside with Marvel, Tee would be a great choice to play him – especially alongside a renewed Fantastic Four or Avengers assault.

Could you see Brian Tee as Namor? Who is your ideal Submariner? Screen Rant will keep you posted as more Namor news becomes available.

Next: Joe Quesada Says Marvel Studios Has the Rights to Namor

Captain America: Civil War is in theaters now. Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019; Avengers: Infinity War Part 2– May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.

Source: Entertainment Tonight, Comic Book, Twitter