AQUAMAN: All The Biggest Reveals And Easter Eggs In The Action-Packed, Atlantis Heavy First Trailer
The first Aquaman trailer delivers in a big way and we're now taking a closer look at that to unearth all the biggest reveals, most shocking moments, and comic book references that you guys need to see...
As promised, the first trailer for Aquaman rose from the depths earlier today and it definitely didn't disappoint. Arguably the most highly anticipated sneak peek to come out of Comic-Con, our first look at James Wan's DC Comics adaptation has left us with a lot to talk about and that's why we're now delving into that sneak peek to bring you an in-depth look at all the biggest moments and Easter Eggs.
While this may be our first look at Aquaman, it still reveals an awful lot about what's to come while simultaneously leaving us wanting more and questioning the direction this adventure will head in. By now, you've no doubt watched that teaser a dozen times or more but we think you'll find plenty of interest here, so simply click on the "View List" button down below for our full trailer breakdown.
Aquaman's Origin Story
The trailer kicks off with a brief look at how Arthur Curry came to be, revealing that his father, Tom - a lighthouse keeper - found his mother washed up on shore and seemingly nursed her back to health, falling in love in the process. She clearly believes that her baby can unite the surface world with Atlantis but recent set visits confirmed that the Atlanteans ultimately come for Queen Atlanna.
Arthur believes she was then put to death but it will be very interesting seeing if there's some sort of twist here, especially as we later see that Tom is alive and well in the present and no doubt desperate to be reunited with the mother of his child. Expect that to remain to a closely guarded plot point.
Aquaman Talks To Fish
When a couple of bullies poke fun at a young Arthur Curry for "talking to the fish," his powers manifest themselves and the sea creatures being kept in captivity soon come forward to protect him. Rather than having a conversation with them, though, it appears as if the future Aquaman instead has some sort of psychic link which allows him to influence their actions based on what mood he's feeling.
Submarine Battle
We know that whatever goes down on this submarine leads to Black Manta swearing revenge on Arthur Curry but is that odd looking masked fellow in the image above him or possibly even his father?
It's hard to say for sure either way right now but we know that the latter dies and it's that which leads to the creation of Manta (albeit with some help from Orm and futuristic Atlantean technology).
War Is Coming
After their brief (and mostly unsatisfying) meeting in Justice League, Mera seeks Aquaman out in this trailer to tell him that his brother Orm is planning a devastating attack on the surface world. He's looking to unleash the wrath of the Seven Seas on humanity for the poor way they've treated the oceans but it seems Arthur has zero interest in helping out until witnessing Orm's wrath first hand.
That comes in the form of a tsunami which is aimed directly at Amnesty Bay, perhaps in a bid by Orm to either kill his brother or simply show him that he's not someone who he should be messing with.
Atlan's Trident
Mera wants Arthur to take his place as the true King of Atlantis but if he hopes to do that, the hero is going to have to prove himself worthy by getting his hands on Atlan's Trident. It was recently confirmed that this is basically the movie's MacGuffin and that the plot will revolve around him and Orm racing to get their hands on it. In this shot, we see what appears to be a flashback to Atlan's reign as King.
There's Plenty Of Humour
We've heard a lot about how Aquaman will be different to previous DC Comics adaptations and that clearly means an increased amount of humour (you know, Marvel Studios style). There's absolutely nothing wrong with any of that here, though, and it all works really well and the handful of jokes definitely land. Some will argue that it feels forced but that honestly feels somewhat overcritical.
Welcome To Atlantis
The trailer wastes no time in introducing us to the world of Atlantis and there's no denying that it looks a heck of a lot more interesting than it did in Justice League! The visuals here are really quite something and while the special effects clearly aren't 100% finished, this isn't another Green Lantern because it does feel like we're being transported to another world rather than a fully CGI realm.
Warner Bros. has a lot of time to perfect this and the sea creatures scattered throughout the rest of the trailer and they need to because Aquaman looks a little too "animated" in certain shots here.
A Challenge For The Throne
In a sequence which is bound to remind some of you of T'Challa vs. Erik Killmonger (or M'Baku) in Black Panther, Arthur comes forward to challenge Orm for the throne in combat. It's unclear whether this sequence has been lifted from the very end of the movie or a little earlier on but it looks like we should be prepared for a really fun fight sequence and once which will have huge ramifications from here.
As for where these two have chosen to go to war, it looks like this gladiatorial arena is located near a volcano, something which would make the water uncomfortably warm. Then again, Atlanteans have been compared to Kryptonians in terms of sheer power so chances are it doesn't bother them.
The Trench
In what has to be one of the best visuals in the entire trailer, Arthur and Mera dive into the depths with hundreds of the Trench in pursuit. These monstrous creatures lurk deep beneath the ocean and only come out at night and it seems as if James Wan will revisit his horror roots with these scenes.
They look genuinely terrifying and while it's hard to say for sure what's happening here, it definitely looks like Aquaman is attempting to lead them away from the fishing boat they've all attacked.
Arthur Curry Becomes Aquaman
As you might expect, Aquaman is going to largely revolve around Arthur's transformation into a superhero and the King of Atlantis and we get a taste of that here as he goes from being a reluctant helper to someone who clearly wants to do the right thing. This echoes his journey in Justice League to some extent but those involved with the movie have made it clear that it's all about him becoming the Aquaman we know and love from the comic books, so none of this should surprise you too much.
What is interesting are the flashbacks which show him being trained as a youngster. Is that Vulko or did Arthur have a relationship with Orm before something between the two of them went horribly wrong?
The Seven Seas
Throughout this trailer, we get some great shots of the people who call Atlantis and the various other undersea kingdoms home and it's pretty clear that Wan has come up with some very special creations. It's been said that they all have only a relatively small amount of screentime but the filmmaker is creating a whole new world here and that's bound to have an impact on the larger DC Universe.
Black Manta
We don't get a lot of Black Manta in this trailer but there should still be more than enough to satisfy fans of the character for the time being. Simply put, the villain looks downright awesome in action and it's a lot of fun seeing him blast those lasers from his iconic comic book helmet, something Warner Bros. could have easily ditched in order to ground this iteration of the character firmly in reality.
Something tells me he's going to steal the show in Aquaman so be sure to keep a close eye on him...
War
This sneak peek honestly couldn't have ended any better because this glimpse of the war that's coming to Atlantis is truly epic and the signs are now pointing to Wan having really exceeded expectations.
It was never going to be easy dealing with scenes set beneath the water but they all look great and it's actually quite nice not to see silly little bubbles coming from everyone's mouths when they talk as it makes much more sense to treat this underwater realm as you would outer space. At the end of the day, it's a superhero movie and there's really no need to sweat the small stuff when it looks so good.
Aquaman And Mera
Aquaman may not be your traditional love story but there's a lot of chemistry between Arthur Curry and Mera in this trailer, so here's hoping they're one step closer to tying the knot by the time the credits roll. This relationship is every bit as iconic as Superman and Lois Lane, and it definitely looks like Wan has given them a fun dynamic (it's also easy to see why the future King ends up falling for her).
What did you think of the first trailer for Aquaman? Are you impressed or does it leave you with a sinking feeling? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section.