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A complicated rights issue between Universal and Marvel seems to cement Namor’s future within the MCU, at least for the time being. Namor made his MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever but he has been a famous comic book character since 1939, also going by the Sub-Mariner, ruling the undersea world of Atlantis. Marvel is no stranger to navigating complicated rights issues, as many of their characters were scattered among studios before they established themselves as a franchise when Iron Man hit mainstream success.
Similar to the Hulk, Namor can’t have a solo movie due to licensing rights with the character between the two studios. While he can be a co-star or supporting character, being the main star is out of the equation, as are smaller things such as only being able to appear on marketing materials if it is depicted as part of an ensemble. This gives audiences a clue at what Marvel is likely to do with his character going forward, knowing that the studio has limitations around how they can use him.
Marvel Can Use Namor – But Not As The Star Of His Own Film
The MCU doesn’t have a history of making films or TV shows based on their villains, with Loki being the only possible exception, but he has become far removed from the villain that was introduced in The Avengers. Many wouldn’t even think that Marvel would be considering giving Namor his own movie, but the comics tell a different story. Ever since his debut was speculated, audiences wondered if he would be a hero or villain when Namor came to the big screen due to his complicated comic book history.
In the comics, Namor starts as a villain but then becomes a morally complicated character that leans closer to anti-hero, before becoming an ally to certain heroes, and eventually becoming a superhero in his own right. Given the journey his comic book counterpart undergoes, it would have been interesting to watch his arc play out on screen. However, Universal is still holding onto Namor and the Hulk, which is why solo movies about either character are not possible until the studios come to some sort of agreement (Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk was technically a Universal movie). What the MCU can and can’t do with Namor is ever-changing and has been discussed for a long time, but it appears Marvel is up for the challenge. Marvel is not going to let Namor go to waste and they can still use his character in other films to create a big impact on the MCU, with or without a solo project.
The Hulk Shows How Marvel Can Use Namor
How Marvel has handled the legal issues surrounding the Hulk could provide a perfect template for what they can do for Namor. While Hulk did get his own movie early on, it wasn’t considered commercially successful, and it seems far removed from the MCU especially after Mark Ruffalo took over the role of the character, who nearly played the Incredible Hulk originally anyway. But the MCU has proven that a character doesn’t always need their own movie to become a solid part of the franchise or to tell their story.
The Hulk’s alter ego Bruce Banner appeared in The Avengers as a somewhat bitter man. He resented what happened to him and hated the Hulk, keeping the secret of “I’m always angry” under wraps until the final battle. Throughout the next 10 years, the Hulk/Banner made various appearances within the MCU and his character was explored much further, from superpowers to inner desires. Eventually, his character arc seemed to reach a peak as Banner and Hulk merged forms to create the Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame and now Hulk has a son, Skaar. This shows a potential path forwards for Namor.
While a stand-alone movie or trilogy certainly would have expedited Hulk’s story, the MCU has been successful in telling it within the constraint they have with Universal. Namor’s MCU future could follow in his footsteps, with multiple projects coming soon that he could appear in to tell his story. Because Namor has been around so long in the comics, Marvel has a ton of inspiration and storylines to draw on making him one of the richest characters that they have to work with. Even though he can’t have his own project, the MCU should have no problem finding ways to infuse him into other movies in a way that feels natural.
How Namor Could Fit Into The MCU’s Multiverse Saga
Namor could easily fit into the Multiverse Saga and Phases 5/6, even without his character being confirmed for any upcoming projects. One upcoming movie he could possibly appear in is The Fantastic Four. No plot details have been released by Marvel yet, so depending on the direction it chooses to take the story, the studio could mirror the comic storyline when the group battles Namor. He also has a complicated romantic relationship with Sue Storm in the comics, so it could provide a natural gateway for Marvel to start to build Namor’s character arc if he falls in love with a hero.
In the 2015-2016 Secret Wars comic storyline, Namor fought alongside heroes like Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and Black Panther, possibly pointing to the fact that Namor could be a hero fighting alongside the Avengers in the upcoming movie. Given that the movie Avengers: Secret Wars in set for 2026, with multiple movies and TV shows in between, the MCU has plenty of time and room to explore his character and make that a possibility. Given Namor being the second confirmed mutant in the MCU, Marvel may also choose to use him more slowly. Namor could join the X-Men, a solid choice for a character that can’t star solo in any singular movie. He could maintain villian/anti-hero status throughout Phases 5 and 6, only turning to the good side in Secret Wars. Perhaps the X-Men will make their debut in the movie and Namor, feeling as though he has found his people, will turn to the good side.
Namor’s debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has opened up the door for the MCU to tell many different stories and utilize his character to further the MCU as they go into Phases 5, 6, and beyond. While it isn’t clear where Namor will next appear within the Multiverse Saga, it is almost guaranteed that he will and unlikely that he will remain a villain during his time in the MCU. Marvel may have to get creative with conveying his story arc, but they have done it before with the Hulk so replicating it with Namor shouldn’t be too hard as they work to establish yet another new hero in the MCU.
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