DC fans have been eager to find out who will face off Jason Momoa’s half-human, half-Atlantean superhero.
Aquaman’s foe is Black Manta, a ruthless treasure hunter and mercenary who was hired to obtain a sample of Arthur Curry’s blood. In the encounter, Aquaman’s father suffered a heart attack that ultimately led to his death.
Aquaman sought revenge for the incident, hunting down Black Manta and accidentally killed his father in retaliation. The two became bonded forever by this circle of vengeance. Black Manta utilizes a suit of armor that allows him to breathe underwater and fire deadly energy blasts through his mask.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who starred on Netflix’s Baz Lurhmann series The Get Down is reportedly in early talks to play the villain of the film.
Abdul-Mateen reportedly beat out a short list of actors that included Moonlight breakout Trevante Rhodes and 24: Legacy star Corey Hawkins. He was also a finalist to play young Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars Han Solo spinoff and next stars in Baywatch opposite Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson.
James Wan is directing the DC superhero pic that also stars Amber Heard as Mera, Queen of Atlantis, and Patrick Wilson Aquaman’s supervillain half-brother ORM.
In more news for the film, Nicole Kidman is also in talks for the superhero movie (her being no stranger to the genre having previously starred in Batman Forever, and at one point been in talks to play Wonder Woman’s mother). The Oscar nominated Lion actress has been approached to play the role of Atlanna, Aquaman’s supermom.
According to the comic, Atlanna hails from the royalty in the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. She falls in love with a lighthouse keeper and gives birth to a boy, who is half human-half Atlantean.
The shoot of the film is scheduled to begin in April and will take place in Australia.
