Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is all set to become one of the most crucial projects on Marvel Studios’ Phase 4 slate. The sequel will honor the late Chadwick Boseman while trying to simultaneously restructure the story and move it forward.

Also, Black Panther 2 is going to feature Dominique Thorne’s debut as Ironheart. Along with this, it has also been heavily rumored to feature a certain aqualad.

Set descriptions and casting calls have pointed to Namor and the Atlanteans playing a major role in the second installment. As a result, many fans want the Wakanda/Atlantis feud, previously only seen in comic books, brought to the big screen.

We don’t know how much of Namor and his Atlanteans we will see in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But there’s a new rumor making the rounds that indicates something crucial. The November debut of the sub-mariner will just begin the Atlantean’s MCU tenure.

Is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Setting Up The Namor Franchise?

As per Bleeding Cool, Namor’s MCU debut in Black Panther is being seen as similar to Black Panther’s appearance in Captain America: Civil War. As in, Marvel Studios wants to make it into a franchise.

Here’s what the site says:

“I am told that Marvel Studios consider Namor’s appearance in Black Panther 2 to be akin to Black Panther’s appearance in Civil War to set up an upcoming franchise.”

The report further says that Black Panther 2 will heavily focus on:

“Namor The Sub-Mariner, his cousin Namora and Atlantean warlord Attuma. Much of the reported gossip elsewhere of large has concerned the role of Namor and Atlantis. That there is a war between Wakanda and Atlantis. But Bleeding Cool has heard that there will be a focus in the movies on the characters of Namor The Sub-Mariner, his cousin Namora and Atlantean warlord Attuma.”

Kevin Feige Seems To Have A Lot Of Plans For Atlantis

This report seems to indicate that the Black Panther 2 movie is intent on starting the Namor franchise. Now, this is an ambitious plan for sure, since this is just the second Black Panther movie usually.

Now, it makes sense for Black Panther 2 to introduce Ironheart since she already has a Disney+ tv show in the works. But that’s not the case for Namor. No solo movie or streaming show has been announced yet. But this shouldn’t cause any worry.

After all, even Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther movie was confirmed to be happening a couple of years after he made his debut as T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War.

So it’s possible that Marvel Studios does have plans for the sub-mariner. but the team might be waiting to see just how everything plays out in Black Panther 2 before greenlighting and announcing a solo film.

So if Namor is well received, then the possibilities for the MCU’s underwater stories will be practically limitless. Apart from the trilogy of movies, Marvel Studios could do multiple spin-offs of the underwater kingdom to expand its world.

Marvel Studios Going The Extra Mile For Namor?

So if there are plans for a Namor franchise, then this means that Marvel Studios is officially bringing the Sub-Mariner into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

And this must be great news for fans. For more than 20 years, Namor was locked in with Hulk at Universal Pictures. Now, Universal did make two Hulk-centered movies, but nothing Namor-centric saw the light.

But both Namor and Hulk are back with Marvel now. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that the situation with the Sub-Mariner’s rights is “not as clean or clear” as others.

For most of the 2010s, Universal reserved the rights to distribute solo Hulk movies. This is why Bruce Banner’s storylines have been played out in team-up movies like Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, etc.

Marvel might think that Hulk works best in a team setting, but for Namor, the Studio might be going the extra mile to secure his rights. Also, as a side note, Hulk fans need not be worried since there are rumors of a World War Hulk movie in development.

The Fight Between Wakanda And Atlantis

The Bleeding Cool report emphasizes that the Wakandans and the Atlanteans will clash in the November sequel. This war between Atlantis and Wakanda has the potential to completely dominate Black Panther 2’s narrative.

But there are no guarantees that the two will see eye-to-eye or join hands by the end of the film. However, maybe the leaders of Marvel’s most advanced and powerful nations might be forced to come to a middle ground regardless of whatever tensions they have between them.

This is because the MCU is introducing the Illuminati. They are a group of Marvel’s Mightiest Elites. Stephen Strange, Tony Stark, and Professor X are part of the Illuminati. Along with the, Black Panther and Namor hold high positions as well.

So just like Stark and Strange put aside their differences in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame for the greater good, Atlantis and Wakanda might cooperate after a bout of fighting.

Overall, we will get to know how it all shapes up when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres on November 11, 2022.

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