‘Black Panther 2’ set pic leak sparks Namor speculation

A leaked photo from the set of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever further fuels speculation that Namor the Sub-Mariner will appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel. Originally shared (and then deleted) by Atlanta Filming on Twitter, the behind-the-scenes photo shows a camera crew in a large pool of water, seemingly to film scenes featuring the lost city of Atlantis and Namor the Sub-Mariner, which have both been rumored to play a prominent role in Wakanda Forever.

Speculation surrounding Namor’s appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began circulating in June 2021, after a new rumor suggested that Tenoch Huerta (Narcos: Mexico, Spectre) had been cast as the character. The rumor also stated that the film would include Namor’s fellow Atlanteans Namora and Attuma. Namor’s introduction into the MCU was teased in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame at the mention of “underwater earthquakes,” something Endgame writer Christopher Markus would later address in 2020.

“Sometimes, you plant seeds. Sometimes, they grow,” he said. However, when the theories first began circulating that these underwater earthquakes could point to Namor, Markus said, “I wish we were that smart.”

Created by Bill Everett, Namor the Sub-Mariner first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939 as the King of Atlantis and a mutant. In the comics, his kingdom is frequently at war with the nation of Wakanda, something teased in a synopsis released for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The synopsis emphasizes Wakanda’s abundance of vibranium, something “Namor’s human father was sent searching for …in Antarctica.” Also highlighted is the “intertwined history” between Wakanda and the lost city of Atlantis, as both are civilizations that separated themselves from the outside world as a way to protect their respective ways of life.

The film serves as a sequel to 2018’s Black Panther, which starred the late Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa/Black Panther. Wakanda Forever’s plot was restructured following Boseman’s death in 2020.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ arrives theaters Nov. 11, 2022.