Aquaman: release date, cast, trailer and everything you need to know

Harry Fletcher23 November 2018

The biggest DC superhero movie of the year arrives in cinemas this December, with the origin story of Jason Momoa’s Aquaman being told on the big screen.

Only time will tell whether it can match the success of DC’s last solo superhero movie, Wonder Woman, which marked a return to form for the group following a run of uninspiring movies, including the dire Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.

Anticipation is high for the new film, which sees Aquaman – Arthur Curry – enter into a journey to become ruler of Atlantic and protector of the deep, leading a fight against forces of evil.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming movie.

Cast

Leading man: Jason Momoa stars in the titular role

Jason Momoa, who leads, is no stranger to Aquaman. He first took up the character in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The new film will focus on the beginnings of the character, who can control the tides and speak to marine life, as well as possessing superhuman speed and strength.

While Momoa has showed himself as a pretty magnetic screen presence over the course of his career in projects like Game of Thrones, the character hasn’t been given the same screen time as Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Caville’s Superman, or been developed as thoroughly as Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman.

Aquaman: In pictures

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Despite a few memorable moments, Aquaman failed to make much of an impression in 2017's Justice League, so the new movie is the perfect opportunity to flesh out the character.

With that in mind, whether Momoa can carry a solo movie on his not inconsiderable shoulders promises to be an interesting watch.

Elsewhere, a strong supporting cast sees Amber Heard play the warrior Mera, the daughter of King Nereus and love interest of Arthur.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as the film’s main adversary Black Manta, a treasure hunter and technological genius with the ability to construct devastating weaponry.

Warrior: Amber Heard stars as Mera

Willem Dafoe plays Aquaman’s mentor Nuidis Vulko, who teaches him how develop his power and wield a trident for the first time, while Patrick Wilson appears as Arthur Curry’s half-brother and ruler of Atlantis Orm.

Nicole Kidman stars as Queen Atlanna, mother to Arthur Curry and Orm. Meanwhile, Dolph Lundgren will also look to continue his mini-renaissance following a role in upcoming film Creed II, with a turn as the leader of the Xebel Atlantean tribe — father to Heard’s Mera.

Director

Behind the camera: James Wan helms the new movie
Getty Images for AIF

Director James Wan is principally known for being one of the most accomplished and prolific horror directors of recent years, helming movies like Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring.

He’s no stranger to a big-budget action film though, having directed Furious 7 in 2015. Aquaman marks his first foray into superhero movies, but fans should expect Wan to bring spectacle and suspense to the action sequences.

Trailer

The three trailers released so far offer a glimpse into the underwater world of the film, which already looks pretty sublime. The ancient world of Atlantic is pretty spectacularly rendered in the early clips, with vibrant colours at every turn.

We see the young hero undergo training with Nuidis Vulko as well as undergoing the later stages of his development, raising an entire submarine to the surface in one scene.

The trailers also offer a taster of his face off at the adversary Black Mantra, before the hero dons the famous green and gold suit familiar to comic book fans around the world.

Release Date

Aquaman is released in UK cinemas on Friday December 21.

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