Wakanda is shaping up to be an important part of the MCU moving forward, but it seems that another secret city is not too far behind due to the rumored arrival of Atlantis.
The underwater city has been a subject of rumors that are related to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, mainly due to the reported involvement of Namor who will be played by Tenoch Huerta. Plot details of the Black Panther sequel are still being kept under wraps, but it looks like a conflict between Atlantis and Wakanda will transpire in the narrative.
Wakanda Forever is poised to give an emotional send-off to the late Chadwick Boseman in a special way, and clues from set photos may have already hinted how the sequel will fulfill that promise.
Aside from that, Marvel also confirmed that Wakanda will be further pushed to the forefront, and it seems that the sequel will do so by giving the powerful country a mighty challenge by showcasing Atlantis.
Wakanda Forever is also set to feature returning cast members from the 2017 MCU blockbuster, including the likes of Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, and Martin Freeman.
Now, it looks like another cast member has been revealed to be part of the highly-anticipated MCU sequel.
A NAMOR-RELATED RUMOR
Charles Murphy of Murphy's Multiverse shared that Mabel Cadena has joined the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Namora, the cousin of Namor and an original member of the Agents of Atlas.
The 30-year-old Mexican actress is known for her roles in Dance of the 41 and Hernan.
To recap, The Illuminerdi first reported the casting of two "Mayan warriors" who were codenamed "Zyanya" and "Cadmael." Based on Murphy's report, Cadena will portray Zyanya in the sequel.
NAMORA'S MCU DEBUT
Mabel Cadena's MCU debut as Namora will be a welcome development, mainly due to the fact that the studio is pushing for more representation in Phase 4.
While fans should take this rumor with a grain of salt, it makes narrative sense for Namora to debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In Marvel Comics, Namora is portrayed as a hero, and this could hint that she will likely serve as the one who will push her cousin, Namor, to the good side when all is said and done.
It remains to be seen how big Cadena's role will be in Wakanda Forever, but signs point that she will likely portray a pivotal role in the film's storyline due to Namor's involvement. As for the actress' MCU future, Namora's ties to the Agents of Atlas could hint that she will return down the line.
For context, an Agents of Atlas project has been rumored to be in development under the Marvel Studios banner, and Namora's debut in Wakanda Forever could pave the way for it to come into fruition in the future. On top of that, there's also a strong chance that Namor will receive his own live-action project in the future, meaning that Namora could also return.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to premiere in theaters on July 8, 2022.
