Latino Fans Are Moved By "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Actor Tenoch Huerta's Comments At Comic-Con

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As you know, the world FINALLY got its first look at the highly anticipated Marvel sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. To say it's a masterpiece is an understatement, and that's just based on one teaser alone.

A still from the trailer that shows someone in the Black Panther suit extend its claws, but the face of the person wearing the suit is not visible

And while the trailer introduced us to a few new characters, Namor and Namora are continuing to make waves online...literally and figuratively. The two are played by Mexican actors Tenoch Huerta and Mabel Cadena, and seeing them in the mix of an already incredible cast has been a joy to watch.

  Marvel
Marvel

They — along with the rest of the cast — appeared at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, and both shared their gratitude for being in the film as well as their love for their Latino fans.

Ten members of the Wakanda Forever cast pose together at Comic-Con
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney

BuzzFeed was in Hall H during the Marvel Studios panel in which Tenoch said, "I'm excited and I'm so happy to be here, it's an honor. And I want to say something really fast about inclusion. I come from the hood, seriously. And thanks to inclusion, I'm here. I wouldn't be here without inclusion. A lot of kids out there in their hoods are looking at us, dreaming to be here, and they're gonna make it! They're gonna make it."

  Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images
Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

He then addressed his Latino fans in Spanish, "And the second thing. Sorry, I need to switch to Spanish. Thank you to everybody, all my country folk, all the Latin Americans. You crossed the river and you left everything you loved behind. Thanks to that, I am here. Thank you. By the way, Namor is amazing."

  Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images
Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

Mabel, who plays Namor's cousin Namora, was asked about how she reacted when she got the news that she'd join the MCU. "It was crazy, I made a call with all my family and I shared this amazing news," she said. "I don't know, I still can't believe I'm part of this. I'm really excited to be here. Viva Mexico!"

Mabel standing onstage
Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney

Tenoch later spoke to Fuera de Foco about Latino representation in Wakanda Forever, saying, "It's inspired by Mesoamerican culture, and the people who were involved as advisors are academics — Mexicans of the region, Latin Americans, they call themselves Latinoamericanistas. They made it possible. And the company, the production — totally open, eager, respectful, smart, sensitive. That is representation, that's how things should be done — with this commitment, with this humility, which is incredible."

  Fuera de Foco / Via youtube.com

He went on to say, "You know, you see people who are in Hollywood that you admire and you say, 'Someday.' And all of a sudden — with all the humility and humanity of the world — they move close and they say, 'Let's create this' and you say, 'Okay, I think this, I think that, I think...' and they say, 'Of course, let's go.' Wow, it was marvelous."

  Fuera de Foco / Via youtube.com

Latino fans, especially Indigenous Latinos, are expressing nothing but joy over seeing Tenoch be a complete badass in the film.

And while there is lots to celebrate about Tenoch, fans are also making sure that Mabel gets her flowers too.

As a Mexican myself, it's a pure joy to see people like Tenoch, Mabel, and Lupita Nyong'o kill it. November can't get here soon enough.

  Marvel
Marvel

Watch the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer below and listen to Tenoch's full interview with Fuera de Foco here.