AQUAMAN Director James Wan Reveals New Details About The Roles Of Ocean Master And Black Manta

AQUAMAN Director James Wan Reveals New Details About The Roles Of Ocean Master And Black Manta

Talking at CinemaCon, Aquaman director James Wan has spilled the beans on Arthur Curry's rivalry with Ocean Master and sheds some light on what makes the DC adaptation different to other superhero movies.

By JoshWilding - Apr 26, 2018 02:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Aquaman
Source: Entertainment Weekly
The first footage from Aquaman was shown off at CinemCon earlier this week and now director James Wan is spilling the beans on what fans should expect from the DC Comics adaptation. Confirming that we're getting a "Shakespearean" story of sibling rivalry, the filmmaker has explained that the story will revolve around Arthur Curry's battle with his brother Orm, a.k.a. the villainous Ocean Master.

"The main antagonist in this movie is Orm, played by Patrick Wilson," Wan confirmed in a recent interview. "And Black Manta, played by Yahya [Abdul-Mateen], is caught up in that world with them as well. But the main drive really is, it’s almost a very classic Shakespearean story about brother from another world vs. brother from another world. And it really is a classic story of sibling rivalry."

The footage shown at the event revealed Aquaman challenging Orm for Atlantis' throne and that the villain will bring war to the surface. However, what sets this movie apart from other superhero stories?
 
"We’re used to superhero movies where the threat is from another dimension or aliens from another universe coming here and trying to destroy our Earth. But we haven’t seen one where the main threat is from a massive, massive civilization that is right under our nose, in the ocean.… The idea that there could be a massive civilization living right underneath [us] that we don’t know about is kind of scary and exciting." It's a fair point and one which definitely makes Aquaman unique.
 
Whether or not it will live up to expectations remains to be seen but the signs are currently pointing to the first trailer debuting at Comic-Con in July, so it looks like we'll have a better idea soon enough...
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AgeofHeroes
AgeofHeroes - 4/26/2018, 2:24 AM
most anticipated movie after Infinity war
AstonishingArachnid
AstonishingArachnid - 4/26/2018, 3:00 AM
"But we haven’t seen one where the main threat is from a massive, massive civilization that is right under our nose." So, Wakanda?
SorceresSupreme
SorceresSupreme - 4/26/2018, 3:04 AM
@AstonishingArachnid - except the threat from that massive civiization (Wakanda) is not a direct threat to the world (Killmonger), it's a direct threat only to Wakanda.
PicolasCage
PicolasCage - 4/26/2018, 3:17 AM
@SorcererSupreme - killmonger wanted to use Wakandan tech to help arm & foment black revolutions in countries around the world, thereby establishing a global Wakandan hegemony. How is that not a direct threat to the world?
Humperdink
Humperdink - 4/26/2018, 3:53 AM
@SorcererSupreme -

"(Killmonger), it's a direct threat only to Wakanda."

That's incorrect.

Killmonger's entire plan was seizing control of Wakanda through ritual combat due to his brithright and then supplying the war dogs (Wakanda spies) all over the world with advanced weaponry to overthrow the current leadership in those countries.

That's why he was there. That was his plan.





Battabing
Battabing - 4/26/2018, 7:12 AM
@AstonishingArachnid -
I remember being in the Caribbean when a massive earthquake hit on the other side of the world. Hours later we were under a tsunami watch. I was ready to pack my shit and run for the mountain.
There's nothing more frightening than when the ocean comes for your ass, especially at night.
BabyBaboons
BabyBaboons - 4/26/2018, 9:26 AM
@AstonishingArachnid - Reach farther. Come on, I know you can do it! Rrrreach for the sky

ELAYEM
ELAYEM - 4/26/2018, 3:34 AM
Wan’s Aquaman, Patty’s Wonder Woman 2, and Reeves’ The Batman make me optimistic about the DCEU.

3 Harley Quinn spinoffs, Michael Bay’s Lobo, and the complete lack of developement on Man of Steel 2 bring back some pessimism but oh well.
CaptainElrond
CaptainElrond - 4/26/2018, 4:00 AM
@ELAYEM - What about the flash movie?
ELAYEM
ELAYEM - 4/26/2018, 4:08 AM
@Toffee - The directors are hit or miss, the writer is mediocre, and (personally) I hated Ezra’s performance as Barry.

So I have the lowest expectations for that movie, hopefully I’m wrong, I’d love to love a Flash movie. There’s so much potential for a great film with that character.
Toecutter
Toecutter - 4/26/2018, 6:47 AM
@ELAYEM - What about Shazam?
djjoshuacarl
djjoshuacarl - 4/26/2018, 7:20 AM
@ELAYEM - agreeeeeee as much as i like Miller, and thought he was quirky and fun, that is NOT BARRY ALLEN. You wouldnt have Bruce Wayne act all bright and sunshine, or HaL Jordan insecure and mousey.
I guess they felt the general public werent vested in Barry Allen's actual persona because its not so over the top and obvious.
ELAYEM
ELAYEM - 4/26/2018, 8:26 AM
@Toecutter - I’m cautiously optimistic about Shazam. It’s not a character I think really needs a solo film especially before Flash, Green Lantern, Batman, or MOS2. I could see it turn out fantastic or mediocre, not really sure where it’ll end up. Hoping for the best.
Humperdink
Humperdink - 4/26/2018, 4:01 AM
"It's a fair point and one which definitely makes Aquaman unique."

I don't know, it seems like that hidden civilization concept is very similar to Wakanda. They may not have been living in the ocean, but they were definitely a hidden civilization and definitely a potential threat.

The Asgardians might also fall into that category and Loki being a prime example of one of those threats.
CaptainElrond
CaptainElrond - 4/26/2018, 4:06 AM
@Humperdink - Eh, atlantis is obviously is very mythical in a certain sense. I think it will work.
Humperdink
Humperdink - 4/26/2018, 5:36 AM
@Toffee -

I didn't say it wouldn't work. I think it definitely could work. It did in the comics.

The mythology wasn't the issue (Wakanda is fictional too) the point was the statement that having a hidden civilization be a threat to the known world is unique to comic book movies isn't accurate.

The director said we haven't seen that before and we actually just did this February.

It doesn't really NEED to be a unique scenario to be a successful one but having just had Black Panther it's a stretch to call that concept unique and unseen.
CaptainElrond
CaptainElrond - 4/26/2018, 5:37 AM
@Humperdink - True
TRexx21
TRexx21 - 4/26/2018, 6:55 AM
@Humperdink - I guess since this time, its done "underwater" he feels he's breaking new ground lol
Battabing
Battabing - 4/26/2018, 7:16 AM
@Humperdink -

As is, Wakanda is not a threat to the world at large. Atlantis is constantly on the verge of coming up to the surface and bitch slapping the people there because of what they're doing to the oceans.
There are also threats in the seas (the Trench) that the Atlanteans keep watch over.
BabyBaboons
BabyBaboons - 4/26/2018, 9:27 AM
@Humperdink - So I guess we can assume...Black Panther copied Thor?
RAV3RXTZ
RAV3RXTZ - 4/26/2018, 6:22 AM
Wakanda was known to the world, but their advanced technology was hidden. So far, I think Atlantis is unknown to most of the world. My most anticipated movie after Infinity War tonight!
aflynn
aflynn - 4/26/2018, 6:25 AM
Its Whitekanda.
Super12
Super12 - 4/26/2018, 6:36 AM
@aflynn - Just....no. Stop it.
narrow290
narrow290 - 4/26/2018, 6:53 AM
@aflynn - Log off and slap yourself!
djjoshuacarl
djjoshuacarl - 4/26/2018, 7:23 AM
I would prefer less sibling rivalry and MORE BLACK MANTA!!!
HAILHYDRA
HAILHYDRA - 4/26/2018, 7:44 AM
There's nothing wrong with having similarities to Thor and Black Panther, but it's kind of ironic how he's promoting this like it's an extremely original and fresh concept. He should just own it for what it is.
Kumkani
Kumkani - 4/26/2018, 8:32 AM
Eh, I know people are gonna compare it to Thor and Black Panther (both being very apt, especially the latter and I have a feeling they've added an angle to Orm/Ocean Master that makes him feel like he's "right" or sympathetic), but I don't really care that much tbh. I'm pretty excited for this. Not as much as I was before Justice League, but it sounds really good
Peel
Peel - 4/26/2018, 9:19 AM
Rushing to do Ocean Master in an Aquaman origin movie doesn't seem like a good idea; what would have been better is establishing Orm as an ally to Aquaman who remains on the throne as Arthur doesn't want to sit it, then in later movies, Orm attacks the surface world over a misunderstanding like in Throne of Atlantis and Arthur begrudgingly takes the throne.

I'd have preferred Black Manta to have been the main villain of the origin movie or, failing that, someone like Scavenger.
sweetre15
sweetre15 - 4/26/2018, 11:12 AM
@TheGoddamnPeel - That sounds great BUT considering how well “The Enemy Below” two parter from Justice League TAS executed this, I don’t think it’ll be too much of a problem if handled competently
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 4/27/2018, 3:56 AM
Everything about this movie makes me so excited...except the lead actor.
Snotzo
Snotzo - 4/27/2018, 5:04 AM
we haven’t seen one where the main threat is from a massive, massive civilization that is right under our nose, in the ocean... Pacific Rim says hello.

😉
Snotzo
Snotzo - 4/27/2018, 5:05 AM
“we haven’t seen one where the main threat is from a massive, massive civilization that is right under our nose, in the ocean..”. Pacific Rim says hello.

😉
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