Warner Bros kicked off the DC Extended Universe last year with the premiere of Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. A follow up to Snyder's Man of Steel, the film followed titular superheroes Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) and Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), but additionally introduced Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher). Although Warner Bros' plans for the DCEU have altered since their initial annoucement, the studio is set to release Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman this spring, Snyder's Justice League team-up this fall, and James Wan's Aquaman next year.
Warner Bros recently announced a two-month delay of Aquaman, pushing the movie back from October to December. However, it's still expected Wan's Aquaman will start filming in May since no reports have indicated otherwise. With production set to begin so soon, the leads of Aquaman have long been cast, including Nicole Kidman as DC Comics' Queen Atlanna. Now, the actress reveals why she joined Warner Bros' aquatic DCEU entry.
In an interview with EW, Kidman discussed her previous relationship with Wan (both hail from Australia), how he approached her for the project, and why exactly she decided to take on the role of Queen Atlanna:
“The reason why I love [Aquaman] is James Wan is an Australian, and I’ve followed his career since he started. He’s a really good friend of mine, and he offered to let me play Queen Atlanna. As soon as he said I could wear mother-of-pearl and be a mermaid warrior, I said I’m done. Please. If there is one thing I have to do in my life, I have to be that. [Laughs] Because, you’ve got to have some fun.”
Of course, Aquaman isn't Kidman's first role in a superhero/comic book movie. She portrayed Dr. Chase Meridian, in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever that debuted more than 20 years ago. Considering the character was largely relegated to the role of damsel in distress as Bruce Wayne's girlfriend, Kidman will get the chance to play a very different kind of comic book character in Wan's Aquaman. Though Atlanna's character has changed throughout DC Comics' reboots and event arcs, she has always been Aquaman's mother and a member of the Atlantis royal family.
It remains to be seen how exactly Atlanna will factor into the story of Wan's DCEU entry, but the synopsis for Aquaman describes Arthur Curry working to prevent some kind of war between those that dwell beneath the sea and humans living on land. Given Atlanna's status within Atlantean society, she'll undoubtedly factor into the politics of the war - which is specifically called a "revolt" - though it's unclear whether she sides with her son or her people.
Aquaman is set to include a number of other DC Comics characters aside from those played by Kidman and Momoa, including Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, and Temuera Morrison as Arthur's father. Though there is still plenty we don't know about the film, we'll undoubtedly learn more as Warner Bros, Wan, and the cast gear up to start production on Aquaman.
Next: Why WB’s Aquaman Movie Was Delayed
Source: EW
