Namor is a mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Tenoch Huerta confirms that Namor is a mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and an origin for the ruler of the ocean.

During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios fans received a look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was a heartbreaking preview of the film that confirmed T’Challa’s death and showcased how the film was going to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman. The sad music playing while the family of T’Challa mourned their loved one hit viewers in the heart.

The trailer also showed Namor, the ruler of Atlantis, making his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Now, it has been confirmed that the character will be a mutant.

"“The contrast between T’Challa and Namor – their characters, and their nations – just leaps off the page. He’s a dream antagonist.” – Ryan Coogler"

According to Empire, Tenoch Huerta, who plays Namor, reveals that the Black Panther antagonist will be a mutant. This is exciting news. Namor is the first mutant to appear in Marvel Comics. It makes sense that he’d be a mutant in his first appearance. Ms. Marvel may have confirmed that mutants exist within the MCU, but Wakanda Forever makes it official.

Tenoch Huerta confirming it shows that Ryan Coogler isn’t just an incredible writer and director. He knows how to dig into the source material for the more iconic characters. Although, a part of Namor’s origin will be changed. Namor won’t be from Atlantis. He’ll be from the Aztecs’ underwater paradise called Tlālōcān (Talocan). A twist on Namor’s past that no one saw coming.

"“You can take Atlantis from Greek myth, or you can adapt from a real culture,” – Tenoch Huertai"

Like most changes from the source material, people are going to have issues. This writer doesn’t think this change is a big deal. First, Tenoch Huerta is Mexican and Atlantis is Greek. It’s understandable that Huerta would want something he believes in to be part of his story. Second, it’s still an underwater kingdom and that’s the most crucial part.

Tlālōcān may be the Aztec version of Heaven, but it’s still an underwater kingdom.  The only thing taken away from the origin is location. At the end of the day, Ryan Coogler and Marvel probably wanted more representation in the MCU. That’s more important than the location of a possibly fictional place.

Lastly, this adds another place of origin for Namor. Not just in the MCU. Talocan will likely pop up in Marvel Comics in the future. Especially when people research Talocan and learn more about it. Perhaps Namor will journey there after having avoided it for years, or it could be somewhere he’s never known about. Either way, you’ll hear more about it as time goes on.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will debut in theaters on November 11, 2022. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow for more details as they develop.

What do you think, readers? Is Namor being a mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever a good idea? Let us know in the comments below.