‘You’ve got to lean into the weird stuff’: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Director Defends Namor’s Origin Change For the Movie

Namor: Black Panther Wakanda Forever

In the upcoming MCU movie, Blank Panther: Wakanda Forever, though the plot has been focused on grieving and dealing with the loss of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, it has also been highlighted upon welcoming new characters to the franchise. One such character is Namor the Sub-Mariner.

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Wakanda Forever pays tribute to Boseman T'Challa in universe
Wakanda Forever pays tribute to Boseman’s T’Challa in universe

Namor is set to be introduced as the one who runs the underwater kingdom of Talocan. But unlike DC’s Aquaman, Namor isn’t your regular king of Atlantis. Instead, his character has been invented in a rather different manner with an individualistic approach in mind, for the design of his character has been motivated by a strong sense of the true Mayan culture.

The director of Black Panther‘s sequel talks about Namor’s character

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly about his upcoming movie, the director Ryan Coogler addressed Namor’s character in the movie briefly.

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Tenoch Huerta‘s Namor the Sub-Mariner has been designed by drawing a rather heavy influence from the original character’s eccentric characteristics from the comic books. And Coogler openly admitted that certain aspects of Namor’s character “don’t necessarily go together.” 

Tenoch Huerta as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Tenoch Huerta as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Also read: Tenoch Huerta Shuts Down Critics With Chiseled Physique For Namor in Black Panther 2 After Initial Criticisms of Being Called ‘Too Fat’

“He’s got really unique features and things that don’t necessarily go together”, Coogler mentioned. “He can breathe underwater, obviously, but he’s got these little wings on his ankles. He’s got pointy ears and walks around in his underwear.”

However, he also added how these quirky traits happen to be one of Namor’s most vital elements.

He also pointed out the necessity of having such captivating things in a movie. “I think with making these types of movies, you’ve got to lean into the weird stuff”, he observed. “Or you risk missing what makes it fun.” 

Tenoch Huerta’s Namor is a peculiar yet unique addition to the MCU

According to the director, Namor’s underwater world of Talocan, is quite similar to that of Wakanda in theory, with both societies having valuable and elaborate histories behind their origin.

Even though Ryan Coogler has taken inspiration from the comic books for Namor’s character, he has also explored a lot of original and creative ideas in the process of coming up with the Sub-Mariner and his world.

Also read: Black Panther 2 Namor Actor Tenoch Huerta Says Wakanda vs. Atlantis Portrayal is What’s Happening With “Minorities” in America

Sub-Mariner, Namor in Wakanda Forever
Sub-Mariner, Namor in Wakanda Forever

By maintaining the balance between introducing completely new ideas and still utilizing some of the conventional elements from the comic books, Coogler successfully introduced different characters in a unique way to the audience. He even mentioned how giving “weird” bodily traits and abilities to Namor “is all fun.” 

Thus, the 36-year-old filmmaker seems to be focusing on continuing the original plot of Blank Panther (2018), whilst also introducing a new story, one of its own kind, that unravels at the same time.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to release on November 11, 2022.

Also read: Ryan Coogler Rumored to Be in the Talks to Direct Avengers: Secret Wars After Black Panther 2 Amidst Russo Brothers Opting Out

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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Written by Khushi Shah

With a prolific knowledge of everything pop culture and a strong penchant for writing, Khushi has penned over 600 articles during her time as an author at FandomWire.
An abnormal psychology student and an avid reader of dark fiction, her most trusted soldiers are coffee and a good book.

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