Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is believed to have gone through significant changes across multiple rounds of reshoots, meaning we may never know what the sequel was originally supposed to look like.
Game of Thrones and Uncharted star Pilou Asbæk's role has long been a mystery to us, though it's previously been reported that the Euron Greyjoy actor would be suiting up as Mongo, the tyrant ruler of Necrus, the "Black City". He has great disdain for surface dwellers, who he feels have no place below the waves, so you can probably imagine why he'd have an issue with Arthur Curry ruling over Atlantis (the hero is half-human, after all).
However, the r/DCEULeaks Reddit page has shared some intel from "verified sources" claiming that Asbæk is taking on the role of King Atlan's brother.
It's said that their relationship is supposed to mirror Arthur Curry and Orm's, suggesting he will only appear in flashbacks.
Atlan was the king of Atlantis before the nation's submergence, during the time of Darkseid's first invasion of Earth. He led his army to the shores to aid in the battle against Darkseid, and was one of the three people entrusted with the security of the Mother Boxes. Arthur discovered his remains, and the Trident, in Aquaman.
In the comics, Atlan's brother is Orin I and, as the years passed, the cross-breeding of Atlantean and non-Atlantean peoples was seen as an effrontery by him. He eventually took power of Atlantis and injured Atlan in the coup, with a war following shortly after.
Is it possible Asbæk's role has completely changed or were those reports simply incorrect? It's hard to say, though this does suggest Black Manta will be the sequel's sole big bad.
When we spoke to Asbæk about his role in Samaritan last year, we asked the actor if he was looking forward to kicking Jason Momoa's butt. To that, he simply responded, "[Laughs] "Yes! That’s gonna be cool...but I can’t say anything!"
You can watch the full interview below.
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa - along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman - return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.
The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released on December 20 December 22.