TENOCH HUERTA What’s this version of Namor like?

Meet Wakanda Forever’s Namor…

Is your version of Namor a mutant like he is in the comics? Are you expecting people to compare you to Jason Momoa’s Aquaman? Did you have to do a lot of underwater training? There’s so many opportunities for sequels/spin-offs/crossovers in the Marvel universe. Are you hoping to explore Namor further in future?

What they did with the script, and the addition [by] Ryan, is so great. It blows my mind. The representation of this… Because the thing with Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it’s not just the characters. It’s all the context, the cultural context, of the characters – Wakanda and Talocan.

As you try to understand Namor, you will understand his culture. As you try to understand Black Panther, you need to understand his culture. And Ryan is a fantastic director to create this context. For me, it’s the most attractive aspect of the script. I mean, the script is great. It’s a real tragedy. It’s an almost Shakespearean tragedy.

Yeah. The principal aspects of the character are there, but, of course, because of the script demands, I act differently, and create a Namor who is more angered. But at the same time, he’s [also] sensitive. He has this philosophy that the king is not a ruler. The king is the first servant of the people. He has to serve his people. He has to protect his people. This aspect is new for the character.

Namor is very different from Aquaman. Jason is a fantastic actor, and he’s great at making that character. These two characters are so different. The mythology is different. The story’s totally different. Their motivations are the opposite. I mean, it’s an honour to be compared with different actors, but I think that, this time, people are going to find that we are speaking about different things.

Actually, I learned to swim to make this movie. I took some classes, and we did a lot of free diving. Mainly, it was free diving. I enjoy it a lot, being down there, and holding your breath – it’s so great. It was a fantastic experience.

I hope so! I hope so!! Because I want a bigger contract! I want more zeroes in my contract! No, I’m joking. I mean, the mythology around Namor is huge. You can be crazy with all this cultural aspect, and you can create a lot of things with Namor, because they take a fantastic source of stories and mythology and religion and everything. So I hope they decide to keep going with the character, past its own story or whatever.