Bringing Namor over to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever came with a few challenges, but perhaps none as big as making sure Tenoch Huerta's character had the right vibe because, much like his DC counterpart, it’s safe to say the Sub-Mariner's outfit did not age well.
Although more people may be aware that Marvel's Namor predates Aquaman by nearly three years, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tossed out Atlantis in favor of Talocan to give Namor proper indigenous origins, mixing aspects of both Mayan and Aztec civilizations, albeit leaning more heavily on the former. These influences stand out the most in the first Namor artwork samples for the film, which look past the source material even more, despite the final design opting to keep his classic green swimming trunks.
This Back Panther: Wakanda Forever concept art comes courtesy of artist Anthony Francisco (@anthony_francisco_art), a noted character designer for Marvel. In the past, Francisco has worked on the likes of Baby Groot, Okoye, Loki, and the rest of the Dora Milaje, and judging from his first few ideas, it’s clear the MCU wanted to reinvent Namor. Most notably, Namor's shorts feature more muted colors that make all of his jewelry stand out even more, hardly an accident. Francisco says, “The necklace for Namor was a treat to design.” He added that the final idea for the Kꞌuꞌukꞌul Kaan serpent came to him during a dream.
While the first photo may be the one that most resembles Namor's final form in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the second design makes all the bling and ceremonial ornaments the character wears shine a lot more, despite missing the upper arm bracelets. The third sample adds some body paint that could hint at an even tighter connection to his people. The final image shows a more modern version of Namor, closer to his recent comic book appearances, perhaps the type of outfit he might use if he and the X-Men ever cross paths in the MCU.
Huerta's character drew a lot of attention, whether it came down to the actor’s physique looking less lean than most superheroes or when the bulge in Namor's Speedos became a hot topic due to claims that Marvel Studios had edited it out. In any case, no matter how compelling his antihero story ended up being, Marvel Studios can’t use Namor that much, as Universal Pictures holds the screen rights for the comic book legend, which might explain why he didn't make it into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's post-credits scene.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently available in theaters.
Source: Anthony Francisco | Instagram