Batman V Superman And Beyond: What To Expect From The DCEU

Aquaman

Directed by: James Wan
Written by: David Johnson and Kurt Johnstad
Starring: Jason Momoa
Release Date: July 27th, 2018

Again, not an origin story – which suggests relevant information will be disclosed during Justice League: Part One – so director James Wan and writers David Johnson and Kurt Johnstad can dispense with the formalities and get on with the action. For Aquaman in particular, this is a bold move, as he has never before been seen in live-action, and is a lesser known character outside of comic book culture. It does suggest, however, that the DCEU is more about painting an extraordinary, enjoyable picture, than painting-by-numbers.

Aquaman will be played by Jason Momoa, which immediately makes the character’s part in the DCEU one of the most exciting aspects of the enterprise. Momoa is a performer with an extraordinary physical presence, and a very keen sense of being in-step with his environment, which makes the King Of The Seven Seas the role that may well define his professional career. Early still shots of the actor in costume certainly leave no doubt that the casting choice here is a perfect one.

The presence of Aquaman in the DCEU is a big part of what sets this universe apart from anything else ever seen. He is an entirely unique character that effectively unifies two worlds – land and sea – and his story provides the opportunity to develop narratives that have so far been untouched by the superhero film genre. The oceans of Earth are a vast, ever-changing, largely unknown realm, which are intimately connected with humanity in every way. While we rely upon them for our survival, the oceans are incompatible with human life, making them essentially an alien environment, right on our dry doorsteps. This guy is the king of that realm – and his power is phenomenal.

Being a continuation of the DCEU narrative after Justice League: Part One, we can expect the film to follow Aquaman back to his underwater realm, where we will see more of his current story, specifically pertaining to him. However, the character of Aquaman has a rich history which will hopefully inform the story told in his first solo movie in such a way as to tie it closely with the DCEU as a whole. For example, historically, Aquaman has come into conflict with his fellow Justice Leaguers as often as he has worked alongside them as a team. This includes epic battles with Wonder Woman and the Amazons, as well as butting heads with Superman and Batman.