We initially believed that Black Manta would be the Aquaman movie’s main antagonist, and that Ocean Master would be set up to challenge Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) in a sequel. But James Wan indicated in early December that this was not the case, as he spelled out that Patrick Wilson's character will definitely be the first installment’s big baddie.
It appears that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's role as the supervillain in the December 21, 2018 release won’t be at all insignificant. Rather, Wan's latest USA Today interview indicates that he’ll also go up against the prospective King of the Seven Seas. The director described Black Manta's antagonism in the following manner:
[It’s] very primal, that classic revenge story. I love the simplicity of that human drive.
In addition, USA Today unveiled a new photo from the DC superhero extravaganza in which a shirtless Arthur Curry squares off with a mysterious foe who’s only partially visible in the shot. Curry’s opponent is wearing black armor, and the scene appears to be set in the interior of a ship. Might Curry be battling Black Manta? Check it out!
Aquaman versus Black Manta? (Photo Credit – USA Today/Warner Bros.)
Wan also shed some light on Momoa's superhero:
He doesn't quite fit in, but as the story progresses, he realizes he's the best of both worlds. Circumstances allow him to grow as a human being, and then realize the bigger picture of it all, and what it means to have these abilities.
The lion's share of Aquaman takes place in Atlantis, and Wan had the following to say about designing the underwater kingdom:
[It became possible to] make something that is from our planet, but at the same time, it's a visual we're not familiar with.
