As hypothesis begins to construct that we could quickly see a brand new actor forged the Sub-Mariner, one of many longest-standing characters within the Marvel Universe, is it time for Disney to contemplate their casting with the followers in thoughts? Whereas the world was thrilled to see unimaginable illustration land on the silver display with Marvel Studio’s Black Panther films, there was one factor that some viewers weren’t fully certain about!

The 2022 cinematic hit Black Panther: Wakanda Returns was the primary live-action movie within the franchise’s multi-phase historical past that launched the beloved character of the Sub-Mariner. Akin to the controversy that surrounded the Netflix collection about Cleopatra, not everybody was satisfied by the heritage and backstory modifications made inside this specific Marvel Studios property, notably in relation to Namor.

Created method again in 1939—lengthy earlier than DC comics got here up with Aquaman—King Namor, in any other case referred to as the Sub-Mariner, was the unique ruler of the misplaced underwater Kingdom of Atlantis. As drawn by early Marvel artist and author Invoice Everett, proper from the launch of Marvel Comics #1, Atlantis was portrayed as a submerged Greco-Roman area, aligning with the idea that the actual Atlantis could have been misplaced beneath the waves of the Mediterranean Sea.

Figuring out this, some followers had been confused when King Namor was rewritten for the Black Panther film as of half Mayan and half Atlantean descent, tying the legendary underwater kingdom to South America for the primary time. In keeping with the Smithsonian Journal, some even questioned if this did a disservice to the ingenuity of the Mayan individuals, who actually didn’t need assistance from a superhuman race when creating their unimaginable early civilization.

What Will Marvel Studio’s Subsequent Model of the Sub-Mariner Look Like?

All of that stated, one of the dynamic and thrilling issues in regards to the Marvel Universe is that it has all the time been ripe for evolution and re-imagination. Nevertheless, on condition that King Namor is considered one of Marvel’s unique Golden Period superheroes, it is smart that followers wish to see the subaquatic ruler realized in a kind that may be a little nearer to the unique.

Supporting the thought of a Mediterranean setting much more, reporting from ScreenRant lately revealed that Invoice Everett really got here up with King Namor’s title just by spelling “Roman” backward. If that’s true, then who higher to mightily soar by the waves and the skies than American-Italian motion star Enzo Zelocchi?

Undoubtedly, there may be a lot about Sub-Mariner that Zelocchi would be capable of relate to. The place Namor is of combined human and Atlantean heritage, Zelocchi is of Italian, Russian, British, Spanish, and French descent. Having grown up between a household residence in Northern Italy and the USA, the Hollywood main actor is completely positioned to know the nuances of each combined heritage and European roots.

In fact, there may be a lot extra to the Sub-Mariner than his cultural origins. The conflicted underwater ruler has lengthy served as a Marvel anti-hero, generally thwarting the heroes of the story and generally becoming a member of their trigger, however all the time with the safety of his individuals in thoughts. Identified for his fiery persona, darkish hair, and muscular physique, the character affords lots for a worthy actor like Zelocchi to chew on.

Because of a Sub-Mariner name-drop from screenwriter Jeff Loveness, who instructed Comicbook.com that he’s “excited to write down Namor,” we might be assured that Marvel’s King of Atlantis is destined to reappear on display quickly. Whether or not that can solely be within the upcoming Part 6 function Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, in additional X-Males movies, and even in a wholly new Sub-Mariner-centered tv storyline for Disney+, solely time will inform.