The Marvel Cinematic Universe has slowly built up its catalog of characters since Tony Stark was first introduced in 2008 with Iron Man. Over the past 14 years, audiences have seen heroes such as Dr. Strange, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, and many others share the screen as the connected universe continues to expand. Now, one of the earliest characters Marvel Comics introduced is making his way to the big screen.
Namor the Sub-Mariner first arrived in Bill Everett's MARVEL COMICS #1 in 1939, appearing in countless issues over the years. He's a popular character in the comic book crowd, so, surprisingly, he's yet to arrive in the MCU. However, Namor will make his long-awaited debut next month with the premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, introducing his character in a way that's never been done before.
During an interview with Marvel Entertainment at the film's red carpet premiere, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige discussed Namor, portrayed by Tenoch Huerta, and why it took so long to get him to the big screen. Feige admits a script was commissioned more than 18 years ago, though the project never got off the ground.
"Namor as the Marvel fans know, is one of, if not the original. He and Human Torch right? And so that, forever, has been on our lists. I remember 18 years ago putting together, I think we even commissioned a script 18 years ago, and the timing was never right and the idea was never right. [Director] Ryan Coogler on the first movie started pitching a war between kingdoms. And if you actually added cultural specificity to Namor, and that's certainly what he's done in this movie, and it's not Atlantis it's Talocan, and I can't wait for people to meet the Talocaneal and Namor."
Fans can see Huerta's performance as Namor the Sub-Mariner when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters later next month, on Nov. 11.
Kevin Feige Says Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a Big Introduction
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will serve as an introduction to Namor and the underwater kingdom of Talocan, something fans have long been waiting for. However, the film will also introduce the next Black Panther following Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in 2020. Kevin Feige recognizes what the sequel is doing, telling Marvel Entertainment Wakanda Forever serves as a significant introduction to new kingdoms and characters.
"The reason this anchors phase four, and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special coming out soon, is because the phases are all about introductions, right? And phase four has been all about - think of all of the characters we've met here. And now, finally, in the finale here of phase four, looking at it by phases, we meet an entire new kingdom and an entire character who is the very foundation of what we do at Marvel."
Fans can see new and returning characters such as Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Lake Bell, Martin Freeman, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Winston Duke, and Michaela Coel star alongside Huerta. Audiences will head to the theaters in droves on Nov. 11, when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gets its premiere.