Namor's Avengers: Doomsday Role Could Mark A Major Shift For The MCU Antihero

Published Jul 26, 2026, 8:14 AM EDT Namor is back for Avengers: Doomsday, and the movie’s events could lead to the antihero undergoing a major shift. Tenoch Huerta debuted as Namor in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where he served as the main antagonist. Four years later, he’s one of the many protagonists who will clash with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Though Namor, who will be accompanied again by Mabel Cadena’s Namora and Alex Livinalli's Attuma, isn’t traditionally a team player, what unfolds in the upcoming Marvel movie might permanently change this mindset. In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan, Huerta opened up about what it means when the Avengers recruit Namor (better known in the comics as the Sub-Mariner) to help them combat the multiversal threat posed by Doom given that, as the king of Talokan, he’s not used to taking orders. The actor explained: Well, it's not good. I mean taking orders, you know, but when they try to, they give him reasons. You know, they explained to him what is happening and why it's important to be part [of a team] and why it's important to be part of this war. He understands and he said, OK, let's do it. Let's sacrifice whatever we need. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Namor was born in 1571. His mother, like the rest of the people from her Yucatán tribe, ingested a vibranium herb to protect against smallpox while pregnant with her son. She and her people gained blue skin, grew gills, and were forced to establish the underwater civilization called Talokan, where Namor was born. He, on the other hand, not only remained mostly human-looking and had the ability to breathe both water and air, but was also born with wings on his ankles and longevity. That last ability has allowed Namor to rule Talokan for centuries, making it unsurprising that he doesn’t handle being given orders well. However, at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Huerta’s character showed he was amenable to compromise with some proper persuasion. After Shuri defeated him in combat, he agreed to form an alliance between Talokan and Wakanda, recognizing that this would be beneficial for his kingdom. The latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer indicated that Namor and Shuri’s next meeting doesn’t get off to the best start. However, Huerta’s new comment helps clear up that, eventually, the former will help the latter and her superhero allies battle Doctor Doom and his forces, and that in turn may help him evolve into a better person. Along with the aforementioned characters, Doomsday will also bring in the New Avengers (previously known as the Thunderbolts), the latest iteration of the Fantastic Four, and characters from Fox’s X-Men franchise. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, and Avengers: Secret Wars will follow on December 17, 2027, to conclude the Multiverse Saga. Marvel Studios also announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Black Panther III will be released on December 15, 2028, though it remains to be seen if Huerta will reprise Namor in it. Release Date December 18, 2026 Runtime 165 Minutes Director Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast Vanessa Kirby Sue Storm / Invisible Woman Johnny Storm / Human Torch Ebon Moss-Bachrach Ben Grimm / The Thing Writers Stephen McFeely, Michael Waldron, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee Producers Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Kevin Feige Prequel(s) Spider-Man: Brand New Day Sequel(s) Avengers: Secret Wars Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Thor, X-Men