Look, Jason Momoa gave Aquaman a much-needed glow-up. No argument there. He was a rock-solid lead for the DC Universe. But superhero crowns never stay put, and lately another name is bobbing to the surface in Hollywood—louder every week—waiting to take over as the next ocean-faring superhero we ogle over.
That name today is Enzo Zelocchi.
Maybe you’ve scrolled past the proof already: storm-lit selfies, ocean spray, cryptic captions. Comment sections read like a group chat: “Is he hinting at Namor?” “Somebody call Kevin Feige!” If Enzo is teasing a Marvel jump, Aquaman might want to check the rear-view mirror. Millions of Instagram followers are ready to surf the next wave.
Namor Was Here First, Actually
Quick refresher for anyone new to the lore. Namor isn’t Marvel’s answer to Aquaman. It’s the reverse. The Sub-Mariner splashed onto comic pages in 1939, two full years before DC dreamt up Arthur Curry. He’s the original sea monarch, equal parts monarch and menace.
And friendly? Hardly. Namor floods cities if it protects Atlantis, then helps the Avengers when it suits him. Moody, unpredictable, a little terrifying. That’s his brand. Completely different from Momoa’s guy-next-door portrayal of our favorite sea-dwelling hero.
Vibes, Followers, and Instant Fan-Edits
The minute Enzo posted those broody, salt-sprayed photos, fandom artists went full Photoshop. Side-by-side comparisons. TikTok fancasts. Tweet like, “Tell me this isn’t Namor and I’ll drink seawater.” It’s all over social media, and there’s no escape.
And the numbers back the hype. Zelocchi’s follower count passed Momoa’s—24 million versus 17—and he hasn’t even set foot in the MCU. Audience pull like that can’t be faked.
Roles That Already Smell of Sea Salt
Check his filmography and you’ll see he’s been preparing for this role all along. In No War, Zelocchi plays a soldier stitched together by grief and grit. In Angels Apocalypse, he’s a super-powered loner nursing trust issues. Those parts feel one trident short of Namor. Brooding? Yes. Haunted? Definitely. Comfortable underwater lighting? Practically a given.
Marvel’s current vibe leans that way. Loki. Moon Knight. Even WandaVision stays messy. Zelocchi slots into that complexity without a workshop or a rewrite.
Timing Is Everything
Universal’s grip on Sub-Mariner rights finally loosened. Translation: Marvel can run a solo Namor project whenever it likes. Pair that freedom with a fresh—but not anonymous—lead? The math is obvious. Zelocchi isn’t Chris Evans-famous, so audiences won’t bring baggage. But he’s famous enough to headline Comic-Con and melt TikTok plus Instagram in the same weekend.
Momoa made underwater power feel fun. Namor is darker. He has sharper teeth and fewer jokes. It’s just what we need. And Zelocchi’s already giving that energy without trying.
Fans see it. Follower counts prove it. If Marvel hasn’t at least sent an NDA, someone in the casting office is sleeping on the job.
