The Rise of Black Manta in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: A Villain's Journey in the DCEU

Black Manta's Role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

As Black Manta is getting a bigger role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, James Wan shares more about the villain's journey in the DCEU movie. The DCEU is reaching its final days as James Gunn's DC Universe will be coming to life as part of DC Studios. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may not have been planned to serve as the last movie for the DCEU, but it will by default be the finale.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman in blue suit in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Screen Rant recently had the chance to exclusively interview Wan about the characters in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, including the rise of Black Manta. For Wan, it was key to depict how all Black Manta cares about is "killing Arthur, destroying Arthur, and everything that Arthur cares about," following the events of the first Aquaman movie. Based on 2018's Aquaman, Wan is excited for the audience to see how this pays off in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, sharing the following:

Jason Momoa's cameo as Aquaman in Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice

Here's the really cool thing. What I love about Black Manta is just how single-minded he is. He's like a shark, right? All he cares about is killing Arthur, destroying Arthur, and destroying everything that Arthur cares about because he holds Aquaman responsible for the death of his father. That's from the comic book that we love.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman as the King of Atlantis in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

And the other thing I love about his character is that he's not a superhero. He's a normal, everyday human, but his will is so strong. He's a very smart character, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. And as we see in the trailer, he's willing to make a deal with the devil to achieve his goal. The great thing is we've established his character's motivation in the first movie. In this one, we can really just jump straight into it and see what it is that he's trying to do.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman with Patrick Wilson's Orm in Aquaman 2

The Future of Aquaman in the DCEU

Is Aquaman 3 Happening? With all of the DC Universe movies and TV shows that are in the works at DC Studios, Aquaman is currently not one of the characters who has a project coming up. It is always possible that Arthur may be saved till the second half of Chapter 1, "Gods and Monsters," but if that ends up being the case, it will be someone else playing Aquaman. In terms of Aquaman 3 happening with this cast, it doesn't appear to be on the table for the time being as it seems like Warner Bros. Discovery is really closing the door on the DCEU.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman

If Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom were to be a box office success, it may inspire DC Studios to do Aquaman 3, but most likely as an Elseworlds movie, which is what the DCEU would be considered by the time the DC Universe starts. But if things go the way they are now, this will be Momoa's last time playing Aquaman, after having joined the DCEU through Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Whether or not Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom leave any hints about where Aquaman 3 could hypothetically go remains to be seen.

Momoa is set to play a new character in the DC Universe, with many speculating it to be Lobo. It will be interesting to see if Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom give any satisfying conclusions to long-time DCEU audience members. Given how much they have had to change behind the scenes, it wouldn't be shocking if there is at least a little sendoff in some capacity. But based on a lot of what Wan has said already, it sounds like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a standalone chapter. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to open in theatres on December 22.

The Changing Landscape of the DCEU

As the DCEU undergoes significant changes, the future of Aquaman and the larger DC Universe is being reimagined. With James Gunn's DC Universe coming to life as part of DC Studios, the DCEU is reaching its final days. It is evident that the DCEU is evolving, and the possibility of Aquaman 3 happening with the current cast is uncertain. The success of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may influence future decisions regarding the Aquaman franchise, potentially leading to an Elseworlds movie featuring a different portrayal of the character.

It will be intriguing to see if Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom provides any closure for long-time DCEU audience members and sets the stage for the upcoming DC Universe. The changing landscape of the DCEU signifies a new era for DC Studios, and the fate of Aquaman and the larger universe remains to be seen. With Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom set to open in theatres on December 22, audiences will witness the culmination of Black Manta's journey and the potential implications for the future of the DCEU.