potential mutant Namor from Talocan (Atlantis). Depending on how much of Wakanda and Atlantis' rivalry from the comics is used, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer might have teased one of Shuri's more ruthless moments from the comics.
Along with adding another of Marvel's unique nations into the MCU, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will likely be adding one of the OG mutants into the fold. To avoid a clash with DC, Marvel has shied away from using Atlantis as the sovereign nation under Namor's rule in the MCU. Instead, they have opted for Talocan, inspired by the Aztec holy place of Tlālōcān. In Aztec lore, Tlālōcān is the residence of a rain deity, which may explain Namor's MCU character as opposed to his traditional comic-book origin. Talocan's Aztec-inspired leader will be played by Tenoch Huerta.
In the comics, Wakanda and Atlantis have quite a bit of history, so it is not shocking that Black Panther 2 will touch on the rivalry. The two nations parallel each other, being secretive, technologically advanced nations ruled by superhumans. Shuri's role in the rivalry is perhaps the most notable, as she is responsible for the decimation of Atlantis. Betraying T'Challa's wish to make peace, Shuri uses Namor's distraction as an opportunity to exact revenge on Atlantis. With Chadwick Boseman's untimely death and subsequently T'Challa's in the film, there is much speculation about what route Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will take, including the possibility of Shuri becoming the Black Panther. However, Marvel may incorporate Shuri's wrath on the MCU's new Atlantis, Talocan.
Shuri's Attack On Atlantis In Marvel Comics Explained
Marvel did a crossover event in the comics called Avengers vs. X-Men, which pits the two iconic Marvel teams against each other. When these battles spill over into Namor invading Wakanda, it leads to a bitter rivalry between the two kingdoms. In the crossover event, Shuri has become queen of Wakanda, and while her brother searches for peace with Namor, she is not so forgiving. Shuri sends her troops to destroy Atlantis while Namor is distracted by the truce he agreed to with T'Challa. It was one of the greatest betrayals in Marvel comics history. Interestingly, these events lead to Namor aligning with Thanos and the Black Order, who are searching for the Infinity Stones. Thanos and the Black Order arrive in Wakanda for war, which is the inspiration for the battle scene at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. While that's already happened, it's possible something similar could play out in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with Shuri betraying the memory of her brother, T'Challa, who turned away from vengeance in the MCU.
With Shuri likely to become the Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as she does briefly in the comics, it will be interesting to see how she compares to her brother. The trailer teases the looming confrontation with Namor, but the two will likely eventually team up. Merch and LEGO leaks point to Attuma, another Marvel Atlantean, as the potential main villain in the film. Still, there could be quite a bit of bad blood between Namor and Shuri before they discover the true villain.
