Wakanda Forever Namor Concept Art Shows Early Designs Of The Character

Namor Concept Art for Black Panther Wakanda Forever

Published Nov 30, 2022

Brennan Klein (he/him) is a senior news writer at Screen Rant, host of theAttack of the Queerwolf podcast, and contributor atAlternate Ending andHorror Press. He has been writing and podcasting about pop culture (especially horror movies) for over a decade at platforms including Blumhouse, Fangoria, Dread Central, The Backlot, and Arrow in the Head.

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Concept art images share a glimpse at the original design for Namor inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. Namor is an iconic character from the original Marvel comics who made his first live-action appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in theBlack Panthersequel. The leader of the undersea territory of Talokan, Namor (played by Tenoch Huerta) harbors resentment for surface-dwellers and seeks the aid of the vibranium-rich country of Wakanda to prevent his home from being colonized, eventually inciting a war with them when they refuse to embrace his more aggressive tactics.

On his official Instagram account, former Marvel Studios visual development artistAnthony Francisco shared a look at several of the original designs for Namor. The artist, who also designedGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's Baby Groot,Black Panther's Okoye, andLoki's title character, shared that his "warrior look" for Namor was the one eventually chosen for the movie, including the large traditional necklace sported by the character. The various designs show Namor swimming through the ocean (both with and without blue face paint) and flying over the surface of the water while leading his marine army. Check out his post below:

Why Namor Was The Breakout Character From Wakanda Forever

Tenoch Huerta as Namor in Black Panther Wakanda Forever looking to the right

Namor was a huge standout fromBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever with fans across the globe, which can be attributed to one of many reasons. First, he is one of the most prominent of the new Latinx characters who have joined the MCU this year, which includeOscar Isaac's Moon Knight, Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez fromDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Gael García Bernal's Jack Russell from Disney+'s specialWerewolf by Night. The fact that Namor is explicitly Mexican and indigenous is something that has delighted fans who have been seeking representation within the franchise.

There is also the matter that Namor is one of the widest-known characters from the comics who has yet to appear in the franchise, delighting many fans of the source material. In addition, the specific details of his appearance inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever ties in with several upcoming properties, including2025'sMarvel's Fantastic Four, which brings to life the team that Namor is most frequently associated with on the page. The fact that he is explicitly a mutant also ties in with the upcoming inclusion of moreX-Men characters now that Disney owns the 20th Century library, especially the return of Wolverine in the upcomingDeadpool 3.

However, one of the major reasons that Namor has proven so popular can be attributed directly to the storyline ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreveritself. Namor is a villain so complicated that it hardly feels appropriate to describe him as a villain at all, and the fact that his motives are so sympathetic has allowed audiences to bond with him on a level more than a typical Marvel antagonist. This is an approach that director Ryan Coogler also used withMichael B. Jordan's Killmonger in the originalBlack Panther, proving his commitment to forging some of the most unique villains in the franchise.

More:Marvel's Namor Rights Issue Cements His MCU Future

Source:Anthony Francisco/Instagram