Namor's First MCU Movie Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time

WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever brought Namor the Sub-Mariner to the MCU, and the aquatic anti-hero’s introduction couldn't have come at a better time. While far from the first superhero to appear in the MCU film franchise, the MCU Namor character is Marvel’s first comic book superhero, debuting in 1939. Namor is also connected to almost all corners of the Marvel universe, fighting alongside (or against) The Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men, so the Namor movie debut has fittingly come at a time when the latter two are ing the wide MCU franchise as well.

The Marvel Comics universe (Earth-616) began in 1939 with Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, whose first story was the origin of Namor the Sub-Mariner. Tenoch Huerta plays the MCU Namor character in Black Panther 2, where he fights against Shuri and the nation of Wakanda, before being beaten by Shuri in the Black Panther 2 ending. This is consistent with Namor’s comic counterpart, who is often regarded as an anti-hero due to his inconsistent allyship and opposition to the Marvel universe’s heroes. Since Namor frequently finds himself at odds with the Fantastic Four, who will kick off the MCU’s Phase 6, Namor’s introduction at the end of Phase 4 is particularly fitting. Moreover, Namor is not only the Talokan king, but also half-human and a mutant, who was at various points a member of the X-Men, Avengers, and Illuminati, among other Marvel superhero teams. This link to multiple MCU properties makes his arrival in the Black Panther 2 Namor movie ideal for the future of the franchise.

How Namor Is Connected To The Fantastic Four & Mutants

In the Marvel Comics universe, mutants are humans who are born with superpowers due to the X-gene. Although neither of Namor’s parents (a human father and Atlantean mother) are mutants, he was born with the X-gene, making him a mutant. Mutants have already been introduced to the MCU via Ms. Marvel, and while the MCU’s inevitable X-Men adaptation has yet to be officially announced, the MCU Namor is the franchise’s second mutant character in the main Earth-616 timeline, and he will no doubt play a role in the MCU’s X-Men property.

The Fantastic Four movie is set to be the first installment of the MCU’s Phase 6, and the famous team has a long history with Namor in the comics. After a hiatus between the Golden Age of comics and Marvel’s resurgence in the early 1960s, Namor was brought back into the Marvel universe in an early issue of Fantastic Four, where he often opposed the titular superhero team (and infamously created a love triangle with Sue Storm and Reed Richards). It’s easy to imagine Namor returning in the MCU’s Fantastic Four movie after his iconic debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But many are also wondering, will there be a Namor movie on the horizon?

Is There A Namor Movie Coming Out?

Custom image of Tenoch Huerta's Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Marvel Studios acquired the rights for the MCU Namor character all the way back in 2014, but the Sub Mariner is just now seeing the light of day. Based on the response regarding Tenoch Huerta's portrayal of Namor in Black Panther 2, is it possible that audiences could be getting a Namor movie or television series? Unfortunately, there's no news regarding a solo adventure for the king of Talokan, and the contractual rights to the MCU character are still a bit murky. In the 1990s, Universal acquired the rights to Namor's film appearances so that Marvel could avoid bankruptcy. While Marvel reacquired the character in 2014, Kevin Feige has spoken out and said that there are still complications preventing a Namor movie. The Hulk has also faced these same contractual concerns, which is why he is only allowed to appear in other character's projects or team-ups such as The Avengers.

While Namor won't be getting his own solo film in the near future, there are opportunities for the Sub Mariner to crop up in other MCU projects. The king of Talokan could possibly make an appearance in the new Fantastic Four film, as Namor and the superhero group have an established rapport in the comics. At times, he has both been a villain and an ally to the team, the same sort of role he takes on in Black Panther 2. It is also possible, now that Doctor Strange 2 has paved the way, that Earth-616 will be threatened in Avengers: Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars. The future of Namor in the MCU could see the antihero coming to the Avenger's aid if he felt that his underwater kingdom was being threatened. The Avengers movies are known for bringing a ton of MCU characters out of hiding, after all. Finally, Namor has mutant origins — meaning he's a prime target for the next X-Men installment. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced a classic comic character at a great time for the MCU, and even if there isn't a Namor solo movie on the horizon, there's plenty of scope (and possibly need) for the Sub Mariner to return.

Next: Namor Avoids One Of The Biggest MCU Villain Problems

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