How Jason Momoa Makes Aquaman Cool

Screen Rant

Aquaman Director Confident Jason Momoa Eliminates Character Stigma

Aquaman director James Wan reiterates that Jason Momoa's performance as Arthur Curry will eliminate the stigma surrounding the character.

The upcoming Aquaman movie washes away any stigma associated with the DC Comics character, according to its director. Jason Momoa made his brief debut as Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, in Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice last year, and he'll be reprising his role in Snyder's Justice League this fall alongside the other five Leaguers -- Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) -- as they battle Steppenwolf and his invading Parademon army.

Despite being one of the oldest and most prominent DC Comics characters, Aquaman has essentially been the superhero team's weakest link, not in terms of power but with regard to popularity. Comic book fans are hoping that the character's solo movie will wash away the stigma that has plagued the underwater king for the past few decades (ever since the Super Friends cartoon) -- and that's something that the film's director, James Wan, hopes for as well. Last year, the filmmaker said that Aquaman really shouldn't be the butt of superhero jokes, and it looks like he's doubling down on those statements.

Wan has taken some time from filming the Aquaman movie to promote the latest installment in his Conjuring franchise, Annabelle: Creation (directed by Shazam! helmer David F. Sandberg), and so it's understandable that the topic of his upcoming DCEU film has come up a few times. In an interview with The Wrap, he said that people will have a hard time making fun of Aquaman after seeing Momoa play the character (which is something the actor agrees with).

Justice League - Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg - Cropped

“Momoa is not a guy that you would go up to and make fun of. I really think you immediately remove any of the stigma of the character from the cartoons that we are familiar with.”

The filmmaker also credited Snyder for casting Momoa, and helping to eliminate the character's stigma in Justice League, as well as DC Films head honcho Geoff Johns for elevating the character throughout DC Comics' New 52 and Rebirth runs. But just because they're trying to wash away that stain, that doesn't mean they don't acknowledge it in some way.

“Having said that, I’m not completely unaware of the stigma. If anything, I embrace it and being able to laugh at yourself and have fun at yourself is important and that’s something I am aware of as I make Aquaman right now.”

The stigma and overall silliness surrounding the character is something that has been addressed throughout the character's DC: Rebirth series, as previously mentioned. Interestingly, the solo film's underlying objective of Arthur Curry fighting for respect from both humans and Atlanteans is something that has also been addressed in the comics, and hopefully, we see some those best moments translate properly onto the big screen, if the filmmakers choose to use those recent issues as inspiration for the Aquaman movie.