Draft:Namor (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

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Namor
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
First appearanceBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Based onNamor
by Bill Everett
Adapted by
Portrayed by
In-universe information
AliasesK'uk'ulkan
Family

Namor is a fictional character portrayed by Tenoch Huerta Mejía in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Namor is the king of Talokan, an ancient civilization of blue-skinned, underwater-dwelling people, who refer to him as the Mayan feathered serpent god K'uk'ulkan. Namor is also a powerful mutant with pointed ears and wings on his ankles who is capable of breathing both on land and underwater.

Mejía first played Namor in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). An alternate version of the character appeared in the Disney+ animated series Marvel Zombies (2025).

Concept and creation

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Background and development

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Ryan Coogler, the director of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Black Panther (2018), originally pitched a post-credits scene for the film teasing the Marvel Comics character Namor, which would have depicted wet footprints leading to the throne in the Wakandan palace;[1] this did not occur in part because of rights issues with the character.[2] Coogler had also envisioned Namor as a potential antagonist for a future Black Panther film while working on the first film, and requested Marvel Studios not allow the character to be used in any MCU projects before the second film.[3] Michael Waldron, the screenwriter of the MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), considered including an Earth-838 counterpart of Namor as a member of the Illuminati—a team the character is a part of in the comics—but Marvel Studios did not allow Namor to appear in the film due to Coogler's request.[3][4]

Casting and appearances

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In November 2020, Tenoch Huerta Mejía was reported to be in talks for an antagonist role in the MCU film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).[5] In June 2022, Mejía confirmed that he was appearing in the film,[6] and he was officially announced to be playing Namor at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con the next month.[7] Manuel Chavez portrayed a young Namor for flashback scenes in Wakanda Forever.[8] In September 2024, WWE wrestler Damian Priest revealed that he was offered a role in the film, which was reported to have been Namor as well as Attuma, but claimed the offer was taken away from him apparently by Vince McMahon's regime despite his availability.[9][10] In March 2025, Mejía was announced to be reprising his role as Namor in the MCU crossover film Avengers: Doomsday (2026).[11]

An alternate version of Namor made a non-speaking appearance in the Disney+ animated series Marvel Zombies (2025).[12]

Characterization

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Portrayal

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Namor is confirmed to be a mutant in the MCU, as the character is Marvel Comics.[1][13] Coogler said Namor "[has] lived a really long time and knows no equal in terms of his capabilities",[14] stating that the character could be as strong as both Thor and Hulk "if he's around enough water".[15] Mejía called Namor an antihero,[16] explaining that it was important to both him and Coogler to humanize the character by making his motivations understandable despite him having an antagonistic role in Wakanda Forever.[17] Coogler was enthused to include Namor's "really unique features" from the comics, including his ankle wings and pointy ears,[18] as he wanted to emphasize those features to distinguish the film version of Namor from the DC Comics superhero Aquaman, to whom Namor is often compared.[19] Coogler also described the character as "kind of an asshole, kind of romantic, and just incredibly powerful".[2]

The process of creating Namor's costume began about a year before production on Wakanda Forever had started, with Coogler asking several artists to help design the character's outfit; most of them initially submitted drawings that were reminiscent of the costume that debuted in the Marvel Comics series Sub-Mariner vol. 1 #67 (1973) by writer Steve Gerber and artist John Romita Sr.,[20][21] but their ideas were rejected in favor of a design by then-Marvel Studios visual development artist Anthony Francisco, who was inspired by the character's original green swim briefs-clad look.[22] To prepare for the role, Mejía underwent a vigorous workout routine to get in shape, as he was concerned about how he would look while wearing Namor's outfit, which in the comics consists exclusively of green swim briefs that Mejía referred to as the "shame shorts".[23]

Differences from the comic books

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The MCU changes Namor's homeworld from the comics, Atlantis, to Talokan.[18][24] The MCU also changes the meaning of Namor's name from "Avenging Son" in Atlantean, as in the comics, to "niño sin amor" (Spanish for "child without love"), the latter of which is intended to reflect Namor's hatred of the surface world.[25]

Fictional character biography

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Early life

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Conflict against Wakanda

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Further information: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Alternate versions

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Zombie apocalypse

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Further information: Marvel Zombies (miniseries)

In an alternate timeline where a zombie virus has devastated Earth, a zombie Namor, at the behest of the Queen of the Dead Wanda Maximoff, leads the also-infected Talokanil to attack the Raft, a former maximum-security prison that has been transformed into a sanctuary by former prisoner Baron Helmut Zemo. While storming the Raft, Namor kills Zemo's second-in-command, John Walker, along with most of Xu Shang-Chi's crew, before Kamala Khan kills him.

Reception

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Critical response

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Accolades

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Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
2023 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Tenoch Huerta Mejía Won [26]
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Movie Nominated [27]
Best Villain in a Movie Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Travis, Ben (September 26, 2022). "Namor Is 'A Dream Antagonist' For Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Says Ryan Coogler – Exclusive Image". Empire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Coggan, Devan (October 3, 2022). "Forever changed: The grief and joy of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Valenzuela, Ernesto (November 1, 2022). "Ryan Coogler Basically Called Dibs On Using Namor In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever [Exclusive]". /Film. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Vary, Adam B. (May 10, 2022). "'Doctor Strange 2' Screenwriter Defends Wanda's Evolution, Talks Cameos and His 'Star Wars' Script". Variety. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (November 20, 2020). "Marvel's 'Black Panther' Sequel Shoot to Begin in July (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Green, Emily (June 2, 2022). "New 'Black Panther' Star Is Calling Out Mexico for Its Racism". Vice. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Bailey, Kat (July 23, 2022). "Tenoch Huerta Confirmed To Play Namor In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". IGN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Jones, Spencer (November 21, 2022). "TikTok Video Shows 'Wakanda Forever' Scenes Filmed in Puerto Rico". Travel Noire. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Van Vliet, Chris (September 3, 2024). Damian Priest Was Cast In Black Panther 2. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Crowley, Liam (September 3, 2024). "WWE's Damian Priest Was Cast in Black Panther 2, Role Was "Taken Away" From Him". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (March 26, 2025). "Marvel Unveils 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast with MCU Mainstays and 'X-Men', 'Fantastic Four' Stars". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Prakash, Priya (September 3, 2025). "Marvel Zombies: Watch the bloody trailer, discover the plot & meet the returning MCU stars—from Scarlet Witch to Ant-Man". Indiatimes. Archived from the original on September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  13. ^ Coggan, Devan (February 14, 2023). "Kevin Feige opens up about Phase 5, Kang, and the future of the MCU". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Buhlman, Jocelyn (November 10, 2022). "Meet the New Characters of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". D23.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  15. ^ Dominguez, Noah (November 7, 2022). "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Director Says Namor Is as Strong as Hulk and Thor". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  16. ^ Dominguez, Noah (October 2, 2022). "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Namor Is an Anti-Hero, Not a Villain". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  17. ^ Laudenbach, Sarah (October 29, 2022). "Black Panther 2 Humanizes MCU Antagonist, Teases Namor Actor". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Coggan, Devan (October 3, 2022). "Ryan Coogler breaks down the emotional Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  19. ^ Lamadrid, Amanda (November 14, 2022). "How Aquaman Influenced Black Panther 2's Namor". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Joseph, André (January 25, 2023). "Black Panther 2 Concept Art Reveals Namor's Original Comics-Accurate '70s Design". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Zogbi, Emily (November 27, 2022). "Black Panther 2 Concept Art Puts Namor in Pants". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Klein, Brennan (November 30, 2022). "Wakanda Forever Namor Concept Art Shows Early Designs Of The Character". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  23. ^ Dominguez, Noah (October 21, 2022). "Black Panther 2's Tenoch Huerta Reveals His Reaction to Namor's 'Speedo'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever': Latest Action-Packed Trailer Arrives". Marvel.com. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (February 3, 2023). "'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever': How Did K'uk'ulkan Get the Name Namor?". Collider. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  26. ^ Pierre, Mekishana (February 25, 2023). "2023 NAACP Image Awards: Complete Winners List". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  27. ^ Vlessing, Etan (March 16, 2023). "Everything Everywhere All at Once Wins Big at 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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