‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’:Talokan Namor
The isolated Kingdom of Wakanda discovers in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from Marvel Studios that they aren’t the only isolated country in the world. The Talon, who the Talokanil refer to as “Ku’ku’lkán,” or the Feathered Serpent God, emerges from the ocean, surprising everyone as they do. But Namor is the name he goes by most often.
Since the first film, writer and director Ryan Coogler has considered incorporating Namor into the Black Panther world. He noted that the Black Panther comics traditionally had “a pretty fascinating rogue gallery” given all the many locations the character has been. Even though Namor wasn’t included in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, Coogler worked with the character for long enough for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to include him prominently.
For us, introducing Namor was actually a chance to introduce another politician, another sovereign tyrant of a people who represent more than just himself, according to Coogler. But more so than what he stands for, Coogler continues, Namor’s enhanced powers make it incredibly difficult for anyone to compete with him – and prevail.
In addition to his ability to fly and swim very quickly, Coogler adds that “[there is] no equivalent in terms of his powers, being able to breathe underwater and at great altitudes and move about on land. He is as powerful as Thor and, with enough water surrounding him, as powerful as the Hulk. He is immensely strong.
What additional factor contributes to Namor’s fierce opposition to Wakanda? Producer Nate Moore continues by saying that Namor’s only concern is for Talokan, which is risky for Wakandans. He has no interest in destroying the planet to gain power. He has no desire for money. His concern is for the safety of his people. And what is more selfless than that?
Namor ends up serving as an intriguing counterbalance to Wakanda’s Queen Ramonda and Princess Shruti by preserving Talokan’s secrecy and safety from the outside world. The world is now aware of Wakanda as a result of the events in the first Black Panther movie. That is not what Namor wants to happen to his undersea kingdom.
Moore says, “This is a guy who is absolutely certain that he is the protagonist of his own tale. He doesn’t regard himself as a bad guy, according to Namor, since what he’s doing is to defend people who have already survived a horrible past.
But who is going to play a character—one of the very first ones ever created by Marvel Comics—and bring him to life on the big screen? The creative team, according to Moore, was “searching for someone who could represent Namor and transcend him above his kind of pompous, holier than thou comic attitude.”
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Tenoch Huerta Mejá takes on the role of the character and dons Namor’s wing ankles, with Moore remarking that Tenoch’s “performance is incredibly intriguing because he’s seductive and he’s clever. He is fervent in his convictions and, at some times in the film, I feel he is persuading our heroes with the veracity of what he is saying.
Huerta Mejia concurs with him. He is just a hero in my eyes. It’s not my responsibility to consider how the outside world or the other characters will see him. I’m not responsible for how others see him. He is really motivated, and that is my job. He is on the right track and is aware of its significance. He is attempting to defend himself, his whole civilization, and his people against colonization, which tempts them to reject their entire tradition and its ideals.
Huerta Meja acknowledges the representation that his character offers in the media and continues, “It’s the opportunity to play a character like this, which I hope will be really important in terms of representation for many, many kids all over the world, especially in Latin America, especially for those that have the strongest indigenous heritage.”
The fact that Huerta is now playing Namor, though, means that his daughter can now see him on TV, which is more significant for Huerta. The actor has played parts in difficult plays in which “everyone is dying, everyone is having enormous problems, and everything.”
On the other hand, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever “is the first movie that my daughter can attend the premiere of. It’s also excellent that she can see my movies now instead of having to wait till she is 18. When she’s a teenager, I simply want to be treated with some respect. I’m going to tell her that I’m a superhero, for instance.
On November 11, 2022, the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which Ryan Coogler is directing and Kevin Feige and Nate Moore are producing, will be released in cinemas.
