Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has shared a new image, offering a look at the preparations for the filming of Aquaman 2. After his turn as the revered Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, Jason Momoa transformed into the superhero Aquaman for a quick cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. His aquatic crusader Arthur Curry later appeared in a full-fledged role in the highly divisive 2017 film Justice League, and eventually, Warner Bros. spun the half-human, half-Atlantean off into a solo project helmed by The Conjuring director James Wan. Wan's Aquaman movie came out in 2018, and it became an instant success, mostly due to its diversion from DC's edgy and dark tone. The spirited, light-hearted, and enjoyable blockbuster also surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office, a first for any film in the DCEU. This impressive performance encouraged WB to continue Arthur's story, and hence, the studio quickly moved to get a sequel in development.
Not scheduled to release until December 2022, there isn't much known about Aquaman 2 aside from the fact that it's being called Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Wan's returning to direct, while Momoa, Amber Heard, and Patrick Wilson have all been confirmed to reprise their roles as Arthur, Mera, and King Orm respectively. In fact, Momoa has extended his duties for the upcoming feature, as he is contributing to the writing as well. There has additionally been the announcement that Game of Thrones star Pilou Asbaek has been roped in for the movie, although the details of his role remain shrouded in mystery. Watchmen actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is also among those returning for the sequel. Abdul-Mateen II played villain David Kane/ Black Manta in Aquaman, and now he is teasing his return for Aquaman 2 as well.
On Wednesday, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II posted a picture to Instagram, showcasing his preparation for his upcoming role in Aquaman 2. The image doesn't feature anything out of the ordinary, as it just finds the actor lying on a bed on a call with someone. But it's the caption of the image, which simply reads "Aquaman," that might catch fans' attention. In the picture, viewers can also spot a book placed beside Abdul-Mateen II. It most probably is the script for the new movie, indicating that the actors have already begun reading their parts to get ready for filming.
A terrifying pirate and mercenary with an enthusiasm for technology, Black Manta is subdued by Arthur Curry after a fierce battle in Aquaman. Arthur thinks that he has killed his arch-rival, but unbeknownst to him, Black Manta is rescued by Dr. Stephen Shin (Randall Park) during a mid-credits scene. Now it's expected that Black Manta will have a stronger presence in Aquaman 2, as even Geoff Johns, who co-wrote the first film, has hinted at a bigger role for the battle-suit clad villain. At the moment, it's not clear how Black Manta will run into Arthur in the sequel, but according to writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, their interaction will be inspired by a Silver Age storyline.
Without a doubt, Aquaman 2 is shaping up to be an exciting project. Momoa has already hyped the movie to be bigger than the first, and now Abdul-Mateen II's post also supports the idea. Until recently, fans had little or no idea as to when Aquaman 2 would begin filming. At first, there were murmurs about the movie starting production in June, but that didn't happen. However, now, with Abdul-Mateen II preparing hard for his role and James Wan teasing the title, it's clear that Aquaman 2 is gearing up to commence shooting soon. Of course, Abdul-Mateen II's new post doesn't reveal much about his role in the forthcoming sequel, but it does serve as a reminder that he'll have a bigger part to play this time around. He might still not be the main villain, yet his future in the DCEU is definitely bright.
Source: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
