Stars, filmmakers and special guests came together this week on the purple carpet in Hollywood for the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. The added appeal in this sequel, in addition to representation of the African American community worldwide for the millions of fans, is the expansion of the diversity of the cast, which includes a larger spectrum of skin tones and nationalities.
Tenoch Huerta Mejia plays Namor with a completely new take on the iconic character. Namor’s backstory is inspired by the ancient Aztecs. In Wakanda Namor does not com from Atlantis, rather from Talocon. In Aztec mythology Tl?l?c?n, is the name of a paradise occupied by Tl?loc, the god of rain. Huerta Mejia, who is of Aztec and of Purépecha origin, has talked about how representing the history of Mesoamerican culture matters, and that what the Marvel Comic Universe has done with the character was done with a lot of respect for the culture.
The star studded purple carpet feature the film’s stars in a we-are-the-world motif: Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (War Dog Nakia) , Danai Gurira (Okoye), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Angela Bassett ( Queen Ramonda), Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Namor), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams), Michaela Coel (Aneka), the first Venezuelan actor to join the MCU Alex Livinalli (Atumma) and Mexican actress Mabel Cadena (Namora), among others.
The creatives responsible for the creation of this diverse world tat is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that joined the premiere festivities wee: Ryan Coogler (directed by/screenplay by), Joe Robert Cole (screenplay by), Kevin Feige and Nate Moore (producers), Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso (executive producers), and Ludwig Göransson (music by/score produced by/songs produced by). Also in attendance was global icon Rihanna, who returns to the airwaves this Friday with Lift Me Up, the lead single from the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever original soundtrack.
In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in U.S. theaters Nov. 11, 2022.