Aquaman 2: The Clarity Behind the Ending

Arthur Curry makes a triumphant return as the rightful ruler of Atlantis in Aquaman 2. Read on for a full explanation of the movie's ending. It has been a challenging five years since the first Aquaman film delighted audiences, and the sequel has faced its fair share of obstacles in production.

Aquaman 2 ending explained: Black manta is back

As Aquaman 2 unfolds, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) finds himself struggling to balance his life on land with his responsibilities under the sea. Now the ruler of Atlantis, Aquaman has tied the knot with Mera (Amber Heard) and has a son of his own. The council is concerned that Arthur is neglecting his duties as king and is considering ways to strip him of his power. Meanwhile, the supervillain Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), also known as David Kane, is determined to fix his suit after his previous encounter with Aquaman. He heads to the Arctic with Dr. Stephen Shin (Randall Park), getting closer to something mysterious.

While there, Dr. Stephen delves deeper into the mysterious presence, causing the ice to crack and leaving him stranded. His colleague falls victim to an unknown tentacled creature before David can arrive to rescue him. Exploring the creature's lair, the group discovers a frozen kingdom where the creature resides. After David is injured, he stumbles upon a broken black trident. Upon touching it, he is connected to the former king of the kingdom, who offers him the power to kill Aquaman once and for all.

Meanwhile, Aquaman is facing increasing problems, including frequent plague outbreaks and rising temperatures on land. Arthur suspects a connection between these issues and the problems of the sea. Following David's connection to the black trident, he gains ancient knowledge and begins to resurrect technology from the past. In doing so, he starts stealing a substance called orichalcum, which catches Aquaman's attention.

Aquaman and Orm reunite

Warner Bros.

Eager for more information, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) and King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren) inform Arthur that orichalcum is so toxic that even the sea kingdoms no longer handle it, storing it in vaults deep beneath the sea instead of destroying it. Soon enough, David is caught stealing from the vaults, injuring Mera as he escapes. Determined to stop him from causing further harm, Arthur and Atlanna believe that Orm (Patrick Wilson) – currently imprisoned in a hidden desert facility – is the only one who can assist.

Using Topo technology, Aquaman frees Orm from prison, although trust is strained between the two. Orm claims that his connections can identify David's location, leading them to a sunken citadel for answers. A skirmish ensues, culminating in Aquaman discovering that David is located in an area known as the Devil’s Deep in the South Pacific. Reluctantly, the pair heads there together, trying to mend their strained relationship along the way.

The lost kingdom gets taken down

Devil’s Deep is more than meets the eye, with mutated creatures emerging due to the elevated orichalcum levels. They eventually locate David’s hideout, where Dr. Stephen briefs them about the black trident. Despite Stephen expressing his desire to stay out of it, the rest of the team attacks, but the brothers manage to defend themselves by working in unison. During the scuffle, Orm comes into contact with the black trident. Suddenly, David appears in a complete Black Manta outfit and escapes once again with the rest of the team.

Arthur and Orm realize that David must have royal blood in order to fully harness the power of his black trident. This means that Arthur, Orm, or Atlanna could be the next targets. Orm shares his discovery that the lost kingdom of Necrus was the scene of a conflict between two brothers, one of whom, the 'evil' brother Kordax, was frozen to prevent his dark magic from being unleashed. However, they overlook the fact that Aquaman's son also has a claim to royal blood. Meanwhile, Black Manta kidnaps the baby and sets fire to the lighthouse, leaving Tom for dead.

The race is on to stop David, as the kingdoms unite against him. Stephen covertly sends a signal revealing David's whereabouts, and with the help of aquatic creatures, his main ship is destroyed using sonar radar - a weapon David has used against Aquaman. The Black Manta and Stephen head to Kordax's throne to access full power, with the kingdoms in hot pursuit.

For the latest updates on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, visit Dexerto for complete coverage. Orm and Aquaman eventually locate the baby thanks to Arthur’s son emitting the same sonar beam as him. Mera is able to retrieve the baby while Aquaman confronts a weakened David. Orm is almost ensnared by Kordax’s black magic, but Arthur reminds him of their brotherly love. By throwing the golden trident through the black trident, Kordax and his black magic disintegrate – with David choosing to fall to his death rather than be saved by Aquaman. Atlantis chooses to reveal itself to the world, with Aquaman serving as an ambassador.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I'm excited about the release of Aquaman 2 and eager to see how the story unfolds. The return of Jason Momoa as Aquaman and the introduction of new characters and challenges promise an epic adventure. I'm particularly intrigued by the exploration of the lost kingdom and the mysterious black trident. The movie's focus on environmental issues and the impact of human activities on the underwater world resonates with my generation's concerns about climate change and sustainability.

However, I have mixed feelings about the controversies surrounding the movie, especially the ongoing legal issues involving Amber Heard. As a strong advocate for gender equality and women's rights, I hope that these matters will be addressed and resolved in a fair and just manner. Despite these concerns, I remain optimistic about the potential of Aquaman 2 to deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking cinematic experience.