Namor the Sub-Mariner’s presence in the MCU has been teased for almost a decade, and yet we still haven’t actually seen him in any of the movies. Some fans feel he should’ve already been introduced. As it turns out, it’s not that easy. Like Spider-Man and the Hulk, Namor is wrapped up in a messy legal battle with another studio.
According to Kevin Feige, “Let’s put it this way – there are entanglements that make it less easy.” While those legal issues are being ironed out, fans have been speculating how Namor will the MCU. So, here are 10 Fan Theories About How The Sub-Mariner Will Be Introduced To The MCU.
Rivalry with T’Challa
In the comics, Namor has a well-documented rivalry with T’Challa, so there’s a good chance that this is how he’ll be introduced into the MCU fold. The underwater earthquake teased in Black Panther sequel.
Fans are eager to see more of the Wakandan army, T’Challa’s badass all-female guard, his sister Shuri, and T’Challa himself, and this would be a great way to get them back on our screens sooner rather than later.
The multiverse
Ever since the existence of the multiverse in the MCU was teased by Spider-Man: Far From Home trailers, fans have been theorizing about a ton of characters who might emerge from alternate realities, like alternate versions of Spider-Man and all the characters whose rights Marvel just reacquired from 20th Century Fox.
So, in line with that, there’s a fan theory that Namor will be introduced via the multiverse. This wouldn’t discount the undersea earthquake tease in Endgame, because that could’ve been an interdimensional portal opening up and spitting out Namor in an alternate Atlantis.
Teaming up with the Fantastic Four
It seems increasingly likely that the MCU will introduce the X-Men and the Fantastic Four via Spider-Man: Far From Home. In the comics, Namor has been heavily involved with the Fantastic Four.
In fact, one of his defining characteristics is that he never stops hitting on the Invisible Woman (this element will probably be watered down by Disney to make Namor come off as less creepy and sexist, which fans shouldn’t mind too much). So, it would make sense if Namor teamed up with Marvel’s first family in the MCU, whether he comes from the multiverse or invites them to Earth-616 via the multiverse.
Recruited by Nick Fury
The very first hint that Namor might exist in the MCU came way, way back in Iron Man 2. Atlantis appeared on a map that Nick Fury had been marking for S.H.I.E.L.D. Wakanda was also on that map, so it was clearly made with the intentions of eventually paying it off, bit by bit.
It was marking the locations of all the potential recruits for his “Avengers Initiative.” So, there’s a good chance that he’ll be the one to track down Namor and recruit him to the MCU’s ongoing narratives. Fury’s large roles in Spider-Man: Far From Home seem to be teasing his rise back to the top of the MCU pecking order.
A World War II adventure
What the MCU has been doing lately is taking characters and storylines from years ago and revisiting them. The ones from way in the past are thought to be long forgotten, but in the comics, Namor actually fought in World War II. So, a WWII-set Namor movie could be a great way to bring back characters from Captain America: The First Avenger that we thought we’d never see again.
Another MCU WWII adventure, this time set out in the sea with all the warships and dogfights and nuclear bombs getting dropped, could be pretty awesome. Chris Evans probably wouldn’t return to the role of Cap for a full co-starring role, but he could appear in one scene.
A villain role in Doctor Strange 2
This fan speculation was fueled by Stephen Strange is frantically swimming away from Namor as the Sub-Mariner quickly closes in on him.
While Derrickson did say that his post was not a confirmation of Namor making his MCU debut in Doctor Strange movies.
An invasion of the surface world
Maybe Namor won’t be a hero in the MCU. That might put him a little too closely in line with Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, and the last thing the MCU would want is to be accused of ripping off the DCEU. So, maybe he’ll be a villain. In the comics, Namor has tried and succeeded to invade the surface world with his oceanic armies.
The MCU needs a big event following the two-part gut punch of Captain Marvel, disappointing some fans. Perhaps there’s still hope for a world invasion in the MCU after all.
A partnership with the Silver Surfer
After the disappointment of one of the characters reverting back to Marvel from Fox, so he could easily double up with Namor for a kick-ass duo movie.
They’ve already partnered up in the comics. The MCU has Ant-Man and the Wasp, have been doubling up their leads and making movies in pairs.
Teaming up with the X-Men
Now that Dark Phoenix has how it plans to reboot the series as a part of the MCU.
The MCU has shown that the best way to reboot characters we’ve seen before is to put them in situations that we’ve never seen them in before, so we have a Hulk that can talk. Maybe the way to do that with the X-Men is to introduce Namor with them. He is a mutant, after all...
His own solo movie
Like most characters in the MCU, Namor’s introduction might simply be a solo movie. In the next couple of years, Marvel’s solo movie plate is full, introducing both the Eternals and Shang-Chi while continuing everyone else’s standalone adventures, so it could be a while until there’s room in the slate for Namor.
Still, the $1 billion success of Aquaman, as well as The Meg’s impressive box office haul, has proven that audiences are drawn to the ocean (especially if that ocean is filled with CGI monster fights), so a Namor movie could be a lucrative money-making opportunity for Marvel as well as a creative one.
