Avengers: Endgame did include a Namor that the Sub-Mariner tease, and now that it’s been validated as intentional, what does the reference mean for Black Panther 2? Black Widow’s exchange with Okoye (Dania Gurira) early in the movie could hold a fantastic deal of significance for the narrative of this highly anticipated Black Panther sequel since the tease was particularly related to Wakanda.
Having a worldwide box office haul of $1.3 billion, 2018’s Dark Panther was a record-breaking film to get Marvel Studios, therefore there was little doubt that a sequel could be produced. In SDCC 2019, Black Panther 2 was officially confirmed to be in development with Ryan Coogler, who helmed the first film, returning to direct. The film is scheduled for a May 2022 release, and even though nearly every other movie on Marvel’s slate has been pushed back, Black Panther 2 maintained its release date.
As for what its narrative will entail, Marvel is currently keeping this information. Who Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) will struggle is also a secret. As Black Panther doesn’t have the rich rogues’ gallery of villains shared by personalities like Spider-Man, it seems highly possible that Black Panther 2 may borrow from the pages of a different protagonist’s comic strip, or it could feature a significant comic book character with connections to Panther, such as Namor that the Sub-Mariner. Though more of the anti-hero than a full-size supervillain, Namor does have a background of being an antagonist, as well as among the very well-known Marvel characters who have yet to appear on the large screen, he is Marvel’s option for Black Panther two ‘s villain.
Avengers: Endgame’s Namor Reference Explained
At the first half of Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) is checking with all the other figures that are continuing operations across the world (along with the galaxy) when Okoye interjects that submerged earthquakes have been occurring from the coast of Africa, but she doesn’t elaborate any further. Natasha asks Okoye the way Wakanda will manage this matter, to which Okoye replies, “It is an earthquake under the ocean. We manage it by not managing it.” Instantly, fans took this comment as a reference to Namor the Sub-Mariner and the kingdom of Atlantis, and an indication that the Avenging Son could finally be on his way to the MCU.
Later, Endgame authors Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely poured cold water onto this theory in a meeting when Markus said, “I wish we were that smart”. But during a recent watch celebration for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, interest at the line and what it meant for the MCU reignited when a fan asked on Twitter in case the reference Namor was intentional. This time, Markus responded and said, “Occasionally, you plant seeds. From time to time, they grow.” In other words, the writers did mean to draw attention to Namor and Atlantis, however why they waited so long to admit it is unclear (or maybe they are simply leaning into the reality that fans have rallied across the Namor tease). Including the line does not necessarily imply it will be ever expanded on by Marvel, but it did build the groundwork in case Marvel does introduce Namor.
What Wakanda’s Relationship With Atlantis Could Be
If Okoye was, in reality, speaking about Atlantis, what does Okoye’s answer to Natasha’s question say about Wakanda’s connection with Atlantis? Whatever is happening in Atlantis, Wakanda has no intention of being involved. It would seem that Wakanda is aware of Atlantis, but the two kingdoms are currently remaining out of each other’s affairs. This would imply that relationships between them are strained or non-existent. Based on what’s known at the comics about them, this makes sense. For years, Atlantis and Wakanda tolerated each other, but difficulties between them go back to the pages of The Defenders in the 1970s when Wakanda mistakenly launched missiles in Atlantis. All-out war was averted by Namor by intercepting the missiles, but the tensions between them have never gone away. They’ve worsened by additional diplomatic incidents and conflicts between Black Panther and Namor. And in the past several years, there erupted even a war between them.
How Avengers: Endgame’s Namor Reference Could Set Up Black Panther 2
What could be causing the submerged earthquakes cited in Avengers: Endgame? Since they started occurring in the wake of the snap-in Avengers: Infinity War, they’re likely associated with it in 1 manner or another. It could be that the breeze has thrown Atlantis. It might have resulted in a war, especially if the people in power were one of those if an unknown occasion suddenly decimated half of the population. Namor himself or whoever Atlantis’s current ruler is – may have been erased from existence by Thanos (Josh Brolin).
Weakened by the snap, Atlantis’ authorities might have become prone to a rebellion. From the comics, Namor occasionally does deal with factions of Atlanteans that aren’t regulated by him, for example, his or her people and Attuma. It’s certainly understandable that the power structure could have jeopardized. So a war between two different groups of Atlanteans might have been what led to the disturbances noticed by Okoye.
The Way Avengers: the Namor Reference of Endgame May Set Black Panther 2 Up.
Avengers: Endgame’s Namor reference might serve as installment for Black Panther 2 if Marvel is thinking about utilizing the Avenging Son as its villain. This tease claims about Atlantis is that the two kingdoms have a background, and that could become involved within the next movie. As for the earthquakes, what was happening in Atlantis – if it is a war or some other incident – could result in something especially if someone new took power.
Thanos’ snap shifted for everybody in the world, so there’s no reason why it wouldn’t have had an equally detrimental impact on Atlantis. Having their inhabitants erased by events that took place may have shifted their view on the world, as well. Atlantis may determine that humankind poses an issue that needs to be removed (or at least controlled), and so, Atlantis’ isolation could soon end if they opt to take action. So relations between Atlantis and Wakanda may move from bad to worse in Dark Panther two if that’s a route Marvel chooses to take. And if Namor is the major antagonist, it’ll be interesting to find out what motivates his crusade.
