01/12/2022
Speaking with Rolling Stone Magazine, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta discussed the romantic chemistry between his Namor the Sub-Mariner and Letitia Wright's Shuri.
Huerta didn't see the bond as romantic, but he described it as "more a human, intimate touch" as they bonded over the "history of their kingdoms" and their people. Because of the threats they both face, they were able to find a kind of common ground with both of them under attack for their possession of Vibranium:
"I don’t feel it was a romantic touch [between them]. I think it was more a human, intimate touch. I mean in the history of their kingdoms, the history of their people, they share the same root, and the threat comes from the same place for both of them, for the same reason. They both face threats from Western countries like the United States and France in the story, because of vibranium, natural resources. I think they connect in that aspect."
While the romantic part of their relationship may or may not happen, Huerta described it as "this ambiguous relationship" that forms in a very human way with Shuri and Namor. Huerta even said he doesn't enjoy the romantic side of the relationship as much, calling what he has with Shuri "magical:"
"I mean, when you meet someone and you have a good relationship, whether this person is the gender that you prefer or not, you always have this ambiguous relationship. It’s normal. It’s human. So, I think this happened with both of them. If that can evolve into a romantic relationship or not? I don’t know. It wasn’t our intention. It could happen or not.
The beautiful part of this relationship is, it doesn’t need to be romantic to be deep. It doesn’t need to be romantic to be beautiful and bright and intimate. And this connection between a man and a woman in different levels doesn’t need, necessarily, to end in a romantic relationship. And that’s beautiful, you know? Because I hate the romantic love. I think it