The internet has reacquainted itself with photos of Aquaman star Jason Momoa from his days shooting Baywatch Hawaii, and people are excited about it. The actor's status as a sex symbol reached new heights during his tenure on Game of Thrones, in which he played the fierce warlord Khal Drogo, who was regularly shirtless. But the pictures of young Momoa - who started out on Baywatch at the age of 19 - have taken the web by storm.
Momoa has been in the spotlight recently thanks to his starring role as the titular hero in Aquaman, a performance that has earned the actor praise from none other than Superman himself, Henry Cavill. Earlier this week, the film passed Wonder Woman at the worldwide box office, solidifying it as a successful DCEU outing (albeit one that has received mixed critical reception).
Related: Aquaman Is The Film DC Needed (But Not What It Deserves)
BuzzFeed's report on the hotness of Momoa's Baywatch photos encapsulates why Aquaman has temporarily been placed on the back-burner. After all, the site's headline reads: "Young Jason Momoa — And I Can't Stress This Enough — Could Spit In My Mouth." And it seems that Momoa's attractiveness - which has evidently been apparent at every point in his career - has some crossover potential, as far as genre goes. In the words of the BuzzFeed article: "While I'm not exactly one for superhero movies, I am one for Jason Momoa." And, hey, if someone likes the idea of young Momoa swimming around saving people's lives, they'd probably enjoy watching slightly older Momoa swimming around saving people's lives - but with a beard and a trident, this time.
Currently, the world seems to be trying to figure out just what kind of movie Aquaman is. Is it like Black Panther, but with a better ending? Or is it overpacked and underwhelming? Or is it, as director James Wan believes, worthy of Oscar consideration? Regardless of where one falls on the spectrum of Aquaman reception, there's plenty about the film to like. The action is top-notch, the visuals are engrossing, and, last but not least, Momoa's take on the classic hero is compelling.
The fanfare over Momoa's Baywatch pictures is fun to witness, but it should be noted that Momoa's talents extend beyond the realm of sex icon. Be it as a superhero, a Dothraki, or even as a regular human being in Road to Paloma, the 2014 film he directed, starred in, co-wrote, and produced, Momoa has consistently demonstrated his potential as a formidable actor. So let's enjoy the frenzy with which many people have reacted to Baywatch-era Momoa - but let's also appreciate how thoroughly he has been able to reimagine the age-old character of Aquaman. It's hard to decide what's more exciting: the possibility that someone might stumble upon more mesmerizing pictures of Momoa, or what's to come next for the actor on the screen.
More: After Aquaman, The Next DC Movies Are All 6 Months Or Less Apart
Source: BuzzFeed
