Jason Momoa gave audiences their first sample of what Arthur Curry/Aquaman’s personality and motivation is like in Justice League this year, but now he has another chance to prove himself as worthy of wielding the trident: holding his own in a standalone outing when Aquaman splashes into theaters next holiday season.
Although the middling reception of Justice League will naturally cause some concern for the future of the DC Extended Universe, Momoa will have the assistance of director James Wan (The Conjuring; Furious 7) in having Arthur take center stage on the big screen as he deals with the challenges of leading the underwater world of Atlantis as well as the humans on dry land.
Because Aquaman is half Atlantean and half human, he deals with a particular dilemma that leads him to constantly questioning his identity. But with a swashbuckling adventure on the horizon, Aquaman can rise to the occasion (or surface) to use both halves of his identity in bringing balance to both land and sea.
For Momoa, he closely identifies with the hero particularly because of the similarities in their upbringing and coming-of-age. While speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Momoa clarifies on how he sees himself in Arthur Curry:
“I love the fact that he is half-and-half [half fish, half man]. I can really relate, being born in Hawaii and raised in Iowa … (and him) coming from this Atlantis-Hawaii and not really feeling accepted in either place.”
Momoa also expresses pride in playing a diverse hero and having the opportunity to inspire younger viewers from broken homes through his representation on the cinematic front:
“I think there’s a lot of kids out there that feel that from broken homes so it’s cool to see him deal with that.”
Regardless of how you felt about Justice League and how Momoa portrayed Aquaman in that film, he certainly has the heart of being a hero as well as dealing with the distinct duality of his own identity. Hopefully, Wan and company will translate that to the screen beautifully next year.
Aquaman stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, Amber Heard as Mera, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius/Ocean Master, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna, and Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko.
Aquaman is currently slated to hit theaters on December 21, 2018.
Source: Daily Mail; The Daily Telegraph
