Aquaman's Black Manta actor, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, shares his unique view on comic book movie performances. Released in 2018, Aquaman went on to become one of the highest-grossing DCEU movies ever, earning over $1.148 billion. Aquaman sees Arthur Curry, the rightful heir to the throne of Atlantis, attempting to stop a war between the ocean world and the land. The movie marks the first solo outing for Jason Momoa's take on the Aquaman, with the actor most recently reprising the role for a brief cameo in Peacemaker ahead of the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom later next year.
Aquaman sees Momoa's hero face off against two main villains, including Patrick Wilson's Orm and Abdul-Mateen II's David, aka Black Manta. After David's father is killed during an attempt to take Arthur out, David seeks to exact revenge, ultimately joining forces with Orm, who gifts him a prototype suit of armor. Although Aquaman defeats Black Manta after an intense fight, a post-credits scene reveals that the villain lives on, renewed in his conviction to kill Momoa's hero. Abdul-Mateen II will also be well known to many fans for his roles in films like The Trial of the Chicago 7, Candyman, and Michael Bay's Ambulance.
In a new interview with Vulture, Abdul-Mateen II discusses what it's like acting in a comic book movie, comparing the experience to the more serious roles he has undertaken. The actor explains that, while all acting is about trying to uncover truths about a character, it's important to distinguish between different genres, with the actor likening comic book movie performances to "clown work." Check out Abdul-Mateen II's full comment below:
“Everything should be about getting to the truth. But sometimes you got to know which movie or genre you’re in. Something like Aquaman, that’s clown work. Aquaman is not The Trial of the Chicago 7. You gotta get over yourself. In order to survive and to do it well, you have to play that game and then be crafty about when you want to surprise the audience, the director, or yourself with a little bit of ‘Wow, I didn’t expect to see a Chekhovian thing or August Wilson and Aquaman, but I did.’ ”
Abdul-Mateen II's comments come amidst a general discussion among fans, actors, and filmmakers about the place that DCEU movies like Aquaman hold in the greater cinematic landscape. The ongoing debate can mostly be attributed to comments from acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, in which he likened superhero movies to theme park rides. The director's comments sparked a debate that continues to this day, with many arguing that superhero movies are just as valid as a form of art as any other film, while others contend that there is a clear delineation to be made between big-budget popcorn flicks and more serious films from acclaimed filmmakers.
While Abdul-Mateen II clearly thinks there's a world of difference between acting in something like Aquaman and The Trial of the Chicago 7, the actor also doesn't say that one is any better than the other. While there's a certain degree of responsibility that comes with acting in more serious historical drama like The Trial of the Chicago 7, a DCEU film like Aquaman is evidently a different ball game for the actor, with different conventions, fan expectations, and tones that need to be adhered to. After all, Abdul-Mateen II is no stranger to appearing in projects that take place in a heightened reality, with the actor's resumé including the likes of The Matrix Resurrections, Watchmen, and an over-the-top action film like Ambulance.
Source: Vulture
