Tenoch Huerta Mejía is officially joining Avengers: Doomsday as Namor, which will probably carry some huge implications for the MCU. The MCU fandom is still reeling from Marvel Studios’ surprise Avengers: Doomsday announcement, which took place over five and a half hours. It confirmed a gargantuan list of 27 actors appearing in Avengers: Doomsday, stemming from every corner of Marvel’s cinematic history, including the MCU and Fox’s X-Men franchise.
Some of the names – like Channing Tatum and Ian McKellen – were so dizzying that they kind of overshadowed the exciting additions returning from past MCU projects. The chance to finally see Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi for the first time since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is particularly exciting, for example. Yet, he isn’t the only character to be rejoining the MCU after just one prior appearance, and now I’m hyped to see what else Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor has to offer.
The MCU’s Namor Will Return For The First Time In Avengers: Doomsday
Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Name Appears On One Of The Cast Chairs
Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s name appeared among the confirmed cast for Avengers: Doomsday. Although he has played a relatively minor role in the MCU after appearing in just one film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, I’m very happy to see Marvel Studios bringing Namor back alongside a who’s-who of newer MCU characters. Marvel Studios already took several creative liberties with its rendition of Namor, but I’m convinced Tenoch Huerta Mejía struck the right chord with a version of the character whose kingdom of Talokan is descended from the Maya.
In Marvel Comics, Namor rules Atlantis and is the son of a human captain and an Atlantean princess.
This direction made a lot of sense for Namor’s characterization, particularly as a Black Panther villain, as his history is also rooted in anti-imperialism and indigenous resistance. It also, of course, helped Marvel to differentiate Namor from the DCEU’s Aquaman, seeing as the comic book versions of each character draw a few distinct parallels. Still, I hope that Avengers: Doomsday shows a more comic-accurate Namor, particularly when it concerns another character whom he is now confirmed to be starring alongside.
Namor Has A History In Marvel Comics With Sue Storm
Namor Forms A Fruaght Love Triangle
Vanessa Kirby’s Susan Storm was one of the first names confirmed to be starring in Avengers: Doomsday, with the rest of the Fantastic Four team members slowly following suit. Their names were among the least surprising (save for perhaps Robert Downey Jr. himself), though the fact that they will be starring in the movie alongside Namor now raises the chance to adapt a consequential dynamic from Marvel Comics. This specifically concerns Namor’s romantic interest in Sue Storm, often being the cause of much tension as her commitment to Reed Richards often fails to deter the Sub-Mariner.
Just one year after their big-screen debut, Avengers: Doomsday could be poised to stress-test Sue and Reed’s marriage. This could make for some compelling points of tension to enhance the main event. While I can understand Marvel’s creative decisions with Namor thus far, I think it would be remiss of the studio not to adapt this fraught dynamic in some shape or form. I have no doubt, for instance, that the MCU will sidestep Namor’s often highly problematic approach with Sue Storm and instead ensure that any budding romance between the two is at least consensual.
How Namor Could Fit Into The Avengers: Doomsday Story
Namor Forms Two Distinctive Groups In Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars Run
As for how Namor would slot into the narrative of Avengers: Doomsday, there are a few hints to be found in Marvel Comics. The most likely scenario is that Avengers: Doomsday will adapt Namor’s role in Marvel Comics’ “Secret Wars,” where he joins up with the Illuminati to help stave off incursions by taking the grave decision to destroy other worlds. Once the Illuminati renege on this plan, Namor founds the villainous Cabal to continue the work alongside the likes of Thanos.
Namor may instead be involved as the ruler of a nation whose fate also hangs in the balance, as Avengers: Doomsday no doubt leans into the threat of incursions.
It’s possible that Namor could join up with the likes of Shuri’s Black Panther and Doctor Strange to form the Illuminati in the MCU as a response to the looming threat of incursions, though Thanos’ death in Earth-616 precludes him from creating a like-for-like Cabal. Alternatively, Namor’s involvement in Avengers: Doomsday might see him take on a villainous role once more. The inclusion of Fox’s X-Men characters certainly hints at an Avengers vs. X-Men adaptation, and with Namor being confirmed as one of the few mutants in the MCU, he may side with them out of a sense of kinship.
A version of the Illuminati was last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though they were swiftly killed off by Scarlet Witch.
With that being said, the Russo Brothers aren’t required or liable to adapt Marvel Comics to the letter. Namor may instead be involved as the ruler of a nation whose fate also hangs in the balance, as Avengers: Doomsday no doubt leans into the threat of incursions. Whatever the case, we’ll have to wait a while longer before the story details fully emerge.
