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It looks as though Jason Momoa‘s ‘Aquaman’ may be facing off against two bad guys in his solo movie.  As previously reported, ‘The Conjuring’ star Patrick Wilson has been cast as Aquaman’s half-brother Orm, also known as Ocean Master.  But now comes word that director James Wan and Warner Brothers have spent the last two weeks meeting with/auditioning actors for another villainous role and that they have made an offer.

 lev radin / Shutterstock, Inc.
lev radin / Shutterstock, Inc.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, one of the stars of Netflix’s ‘The Get Down’ has reportedly been offered the role of the ruthless Black Manta, perhaps the Sea King’s most bloodthirsty foe.  Reportedly, Wan and the studio made the decision this past weekend and sent out the offer on Monday.  Now it’s down to the final negotiations (i.e. pay).

Should Abdul-Mateen sign on the dotted line, he will join Momoa, Wilson, Amber Heard who is playing Aquaman’s love interest Mera and Willem Dafoe as adviser Nuidis Vulko.

‘The Get Down’ co-created by Baz Luhrman and Stephen Adly Guirgis is Abdul-Mateen’s big break, but he has since landed roles in such high-profile projects as ‘Baywatch’ starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, and ‘The Greatest Showman’, a musical biography of P.T. Barnum, which also stars Efron, as well as Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Williams and Zendaya.

In the comics, Black Manta wields a number of weapons, most notably his distinctive helmet which can fire energy blasts from its huge eyelets.  The villain first appeared in 1967 and was featured on the 1968 ‘Aquaman’ Saturday morning cartoon, as well as ‘Challenge of the Super Friends’, ‘Justice League’ and ‘Young Justice’.  In the comics, Black Manta is notorious for having murdered Aquaman and Mera’s infant son.  He later went on to father his own son with Mera’s sister Siren, Jackson Hyde/Kaldur’ahm, who would grow up to become the second Aqualad.  Aqualad served in the Teen Titans in the comics and led “The Team” on the ‘Young Justice’ animated series.

Since nothing about the plot of ‘Aquaman’ is known, it’s anyone’s guess how Black Manta and Ocean Master will work together… or if they even will.  It’s possible that Wilson’s Orm will not take on the Ocean Master identity until a sequel.  Or perhaps Black Manta will be the up-front villain, while Orm lingers in the background pulling strings.

At any rate, ‘Aquaman’ is due to swim into theaters on October 5, 2018.

Are you excited to see a live action Black Manta on the big screen?  What do you think of this casting?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter