WWE Superstar Almost Starred in Black Panther 2

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Griff Griffin | Last updated Sep 4, 2024 5:00 PM ET

WWE superstar Damian Priest was close to starring in Black Panther 2.

According to Priest, he was actually cast in the 2022 Marvel movie, but the agreement fell apart at the last minute. And it was apparently WWE that pulled the plug.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Priest was asked “What ended up happening there?”

Marvel, Disney

"It's a long story,” Priest replied, “but basically it got taken away from me, but not from Marvel.” Van Vliet says, “I know early on you were reading for the role, you were auditioning for the role. So you got the role?” “Yeah,” answers Priest. “It didn’t work out, not the end of the world. The movie was great though.” Fightful originally reported Priest read for the role in 2022.

The role ultimately went to Tenoch Huerta, who previously acted in 2021’s The Forever Purge, and is rumored to feature in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

In Black Panther 2, Namor is the King of Talokan, an ancient underwater civilization. A mutant, he can breathe underwater, fly with the help of wings on his ankles, and also wields a spear made of raw vibranium.

If Priest did get the role, he’d be following in the footsteps of other WWE superstars who’ve made the jump to Hollywood such as The Rock, John Cena, and Batista. Speaking of which, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will star in new A24 film The Smashing Machine.