Warner Bros. has already started shooting it’s anticipated Aquaman project, and now it seems they’ve added another star to the cast.
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Yes or No … correct! https://t.co/khOOAPjSMa
โ Michael Beach (@MikeABeach) May 24, 2017
The film’s villain will be Aquaman‘s most notable nemesis Black Manta. Manta will be played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and the reason he loathes Aquaman in the comics stems from his the death of his father. The father role will most likely be played by actor Michael Beach, who was seen earlier this year in a photo Mateen shared on Instagram from the set.
Beach was asked recently if he was playing the role of Manta’s father “yes or no?”, to which he said, “Yes or No…correct!” It’s a sly answer to be sure, but if he wasn’t he would have just said no or not at this time. Combined with his earlier appearance, it seems his casting is just going officially unannounced, which makes sense since the role is most likely rather small.
Manta’s father brought his son along when he confronted Arthur Curry, prompting Arthur’s father to get involved. While he successfully fended them off, he died shortly after the encounter from a heart attack. Arthur then sought out Manta’s father for retribution, but things go awry and he ends up accidentally killing him. Manta takes his infamous mantle and seeks revenge for his father’s death, holding Aquaman forever accountable.
Aquaman will appear next in Justice League, and you can find the official synopsis below.
In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroesโBatman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flashโit may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Ciarรกn Hinds (Steppenwolf), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon), Amber Heard (Mera), Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) and Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor).
The DCEU continues when Wonder Woman opens in theaters on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020. The Flash, The Batman, Dark Universe and Man of Steel 2 are currently without a release dates.
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