Everything We Know About Namor & Atlantis In The MCU

As revealed at San Diego Comic-Con International 2022, Namor the Sub-Mariner and his underwater kingdom are on their way to the MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The Avenging Son will be the main villain in the upcoming Black Panther sequel. With his power, he could be a force to be reckoned with for the people of Wakanda, regardless of the advanced technology they possess. Footage has already shown what looks to be a war between an underwater nation (presumably Atlantis) and Wakanda, so the MCU's Namor (played by Tenoch Huerta) already looks to be as dangerous as his comic-book counterpart.

For years, Marvel hasn’t been able to make a Namor movie due to the fact that his movie rights were sold to Universal Pictures in the 1990s. That seemingly stood in the way of this classic Marvel Comics anti-hero appearing on the big screen for years. And with all the heroes joining the MCU in Phase 4, it’s reached a point where Namor the Sub-Mariner is the biggest Marvel character without a single appearance in a live-action movie or TV show, further fueling interest in his MCU debut. Now, Marvel is finally gearing up for the King of Atlantis to make a splash on the big screen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and audiences can look forward to finally meeting Namor in November 2022.

Whether as a hero or villain, Namor’s introduction is an exciting prospect, especially when taking into consideration how important his character really is. Created in 1939, the Avenging Son is one of Marvel’s oldest heroes, with the other being the original Human Torch. Through 80 years of comic history, Namor has maintained a rather consistent presence. During this time, he’s made a number of significant contributions to the Marvel Universe. Namor was a founding member of both the Illuminati and the original Defenders team, in addition to being an Avenger, an X-Man, Doctor Doom’s partner-in-crime, a World War II superhero, and the protagonist of his own solo stories. Marvel has plenty of available options as to what it can offer with his character, but initially, he'll be used as an antagonist for Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Here’s everything that’s known about how the MCU is changing Namor the Sub-Mariner and what could be on the table for his Marvel cinematic future.

The MCU Has Already Teased Namor's Existence

MCU Theory Completely Changes Namors Origin In Phase 4 iron man 2 endgame

Although the MCU didn't use Namor until Black Panther 2, Marvel hadn’t exactly shied away from him completely prior to his reveal in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer at SDCC 2022. He was first alluded to in Iron Man 2 when Tony Stark was looking at a map of areas monitored by SHIELD. Curiously, SHIELD had placed a marker in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The idea that SHIELD was observing a place where the mythical city of Atlantis was supposedly located fuelled many theories about Namor’s MCU existence.

It took nearly ten years for Marvel to tease him again. In Avengers: Endgame, Okoye mentioned underwater earthquakes occurring off the coast of Africa. When asked about Wakanda’s response to these incidents, Okoye simply explained, “we handle it by not handling it.” If not for Namor, the brief exchange would have felt pointless. But given that there were so many expectations around Namor's emergence as Black Panther’s next MCU opponent, the line was interpreted as an Atlantis Easter egg. Later, Endgame writer Christopher Markus teased the suspense around the seaquakes either being or not being a Namor hint by saying, “Sometimes, you plant seeds. Sometimes, they grow.” As it turned out when the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer was released, Marvel was indeed laying the groundwork for a Black Panther sequel appearance.

Namor Will Feature Heavily In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Yes, Namor is in Black Panther 2. Tenoch Huerta is playing the character, and two other Atlanteans – Attuma and Namora – have been rumored as well. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer launched at SDCC 2022 included dozens of blue-skinned Atlanteans alongside Namor, so the Attuma and Namora speculation could well be proved correct. Both the trailer and set photos indicate that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever includes underwater sequences, teasing that the Wakandans and Atlanteans will engage in an all-out war with battles taking place in both sides' territories. Hostile relations between Atlantis and Wakanda have often been depicted in the Marvel comics canon, and many fans are excited that the MCU is bringing (and altering) this element of Namor's origin and history to the big screen.

There were theories about Namor from the moment Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was announced. Given how small Black Panther’s rogues' gallery is in Marvel Comics, it made sense that the movie would draw upon Wakanda’s rivalry with Atlantis. After Klaue was killed and Killmonger became so popular he's been touted as a possible T'challa replacement, there really weren’t many other strong candidates for Black Panther 2’s villain. That’s one reason why Namor was the fan-favorite choice from the start alongside his overall popularity, and some also hoped for Namor because of the character's connection to the equally long-awaited X-Men arrival (Namor is a mutant). And right now, that seems to be Marvel's approach, as Namor will be featuring extensively in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the movie's main antagonist and the first threat Wakanda will have to unite to face in a post-T'challa world.

The MCU's Take On Atlantis Is At War With Wakanda

The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer suggests that Marvel won’t be offering a traditional bronze-age interpretation of Namor’s story in which he's depicted as a hero. Instead, they are opting for an approach closer to modern renditions with Atlantis and Wakanda engaged in war. This offers opportunities for political intrigue and a grand, complex, globe-spanning scope not usually available in superhero movies. Namor is clearly portrayed as an antagonist, with Wakanda's surrender (or even possibly destruction) being his end goal. The catalyst for this conflict remains to be seen. However, the footage shows that the struggle will involve armies from both nations, alongside pretty much every supporting character from Black Panther.

In terms of aesthetics, Marvel has created an Atlantis inspired by Aztec culture and mythology with Namor as its ruler. Namor's new look bears some clear Aztec influences. This idea that Marvel is making Namor’s homeland a lost civilization with Aztec connections is supported by the casting of Tenoch Huerta as Namor. While this inclusion adds more diversity to the MCU (which has long been accused of whitewashing), it will also help to distinguish the Namor and the MCU's Atlantis from the DCEU's Aquaman franchise. Audience members unfamiliar with the comics might find it confusing if Marvel chose a CGI The Little Mermaid look for their on-screen Atlantis similar to DC's Aquaman Atlantis. The MCU hasn't completely abandoned the sea kingdom tropes though, as several shots have shown Atlantean soldiers riding whales through the ocean and emerging from the waves alongside sea monsters.

Can The MCU Release A Namor Solo Movie Now?

Namor the Sub-Mariner as seen in the Golden Age of comic books

Based on Namor’s rich history in the comics, it would be a huge disservice to his character and a major missed opportunity if Marvel restricted him to a villain role in Black Panther 2. With this in mind, it’s likely that Marvel will use him again. As long as it doesn’t make him irredeemable or completely evil, Marvel may intend to give Namor his own movie. However, it’s hard to say if Marvel can do that. If Namor’s rights issues have been resolved by Marvel and Universal, that information isn’t publicly known. It’s at least possible that Marvel can make a Namor the Sub-Mariner movie. Alternatively, they may be able to add a Namor series to the extensive list of upcoming MCU Disney+ shows. It’s not clear if a TV show centered on the character would depend on his rights reverting back to Marvel.

Would Namor Become An Avenger In The Future?

Captain America Silver Surfer Hercules Monica Rambeau Black Knight Namor

Being a villain didn’t stop Namor from joining the Avengers in the 1980s, so his actions in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may not be a deterrent in the MCU either. After the movie, he deserves to at least be considered for candidacy on the next Avengers team. With his strength, he’d certainly be a powerful addition to the group. If Thor or Captain Marvel isn’t on the lineup, he could easily fill the role of the team’s muscle. Alternatively, Marvel may have other ideas for his MCU future. Given his solo status, Namor the Sub-Mariner was a perfect fit for Doctor Strange’s Defenders team, who only banded together when needed. If Marvel makes a proper Defenders movie with characters like Doctor Strange and Hulk on board, that would further add to the list of opportunities for Namor's MCU future that Marvel would have open to them.

More: What Doctor Strange 2’s Biggest Missing Cameos Mean For Black Panther 2