I've been reading Aquaman since I was about eight. Maybe it was a bias on my part as a pisces, but I've always loved water and water based heroes. So, naturally I took to the character and I love how I was able to read so many great stories of the character (got to love back issues). I've read titles from Shawn McManus, Peter David, John Arcudi, Will Pfeifer, and Geoff Johns. I've constantly held this character as not just my favorite DC character, but one of my favorite characters in comics period. So with that being said, here's my attempt at what a cinematic Aquaman feature could possibly look like.
For the lead role I have three actors in mind that could work for the king of the seven seas. The first:
Arthur Curry/Orin/Aquaman:
Sam Claflin
This one is a give away as I have been thinking this after I saw the film as well as while I was watching it. He basically played the character in the new Hunger Games movie. Saw a screening of it Monday and it was a packed house. I can't fully remember how many times I heard people shouting out "Aquaman!" during the film. I lost count at around eighteen. He has the build, he can definitively handle action (as well as doing damage with a trident), and he has the look of regality that screams royalty. Plus a majority of his scenes involving the water were very tense during the action sequences. If a legit movie never happens, Claflin as Finnick Odair is the closest to a live action Aquaman we're likely to get.
Josh Dallas
My next choice wood be Josh Dallas. If done right, Aquaman could be DC's answer to Marvel's Thor franchise. You have the mythical setting of Atlantis (Asgard), the royal super being living amongst humans, the trade mark iconic weapon of the characters (trident/mjolnir), and now Josh Dallas. Having played an Asgardian as well as Prince charming on the show Once Up a Time (Not the Wonderland version) Dallas already has an advantage having been in two productions dealing with the mythical worlds and their trappings. Also, having fought along side royalty as Fandral in the first Thor movie and having been royalty in Once Upon a Time, Josh Dallas could indeed make a good Aquaman.
Ryan Gosling
The next choice is more for the inevitable way things work. One thing that's always a constant about these films is that you need names. Recognizable names that can put people in seats. Gosling is an actor who can do big budget films and even smaller indie films, yet he also does not mind working with a bit of cheese. Maybe this will change later in his career or maybe it won't, but with Gangster Squad and Only God Forgives under his belt, I don't feel like Gosling would scoff at this role if presented with it. Aside from bringing in a large female demographic (RG+shirtless in water= lady boners everywhere) he also is one of those actors who can bring in an audience. He's in damn near everything, so why not a superhero film? With this casting alone, Aquaman is no longer just the butt of the lame and tired super friends jokes, but a character that commands respect for having a "name" attached to play him. Plus, imagine a cool intense scene in the style of "Drive" except it's underwater... With a shark... Or a Kraken.
Black Manta: Chad Boseman
For Manta I went with Chad Boseman due to his performance in the film, "42". The aspect that guided me to this selection was his rage. In "42", Boseman was able to show a great build up of intensity and anger to the point where each close up of his face was like a countdown to when he would explode. The scene where breaks down behind the scenes was so raw and violent that I could easily see Black Manta doing being that hateful towards Aquaman. Going by the new 52 origin where Manta holds Aquaman accountable for his father's death, Boseman has an intensity that I can see shine through in the role of Black Manta.
King Orm/Ocean Master: Jai Courtney
I went with Courtney for this role because he is quickly becoming a familiar face. With supporting roles in films with Tom Cruise in "Jack Reacher" and a co-starring role in "A Good Day to Die Hard", Courtney was worked with names and is quickly on the way to becoming one himself. Although he is more than capable of portraying a rugged and intense Aquaman, his villainous turn in Jack Reacher caught my eye more than his turn as Bruce Willis Jr. in Die Hard 5. For this, I imagine Orm more along the lines of the New 52 version. He's not a villain for the sake of being a villain or because he's jealous of his brother. So in order to keep it out of Thor and standard superhero film territory, Orm is simply a king who has his hand forced to wage war with the surface world. In this we get a great conflict and a protagonist, who just like Manta is relatable and not run of the mill evil. Not evil at all to be honest. At only 27, Jai COurtney has a presence about him that fits an Atlantean monarch. He could easily be passed off as a villain with his intense look, but he can also play a man forced into a fight he did not ask for. More importantly, an unwanted fight in which he will do his best to win.
Mera: Amanda Righetti
Mera is not just Aquaman's wife, she's also his greatest ally and on some occasions she can just as fierce and as dangerous a threat as her husband. For this role, I went with Amanda because a lot of the red haired actresses (of course with exceptions) are cast in the same roles repeatedly. If they're not the hot sexy girl next door, they're the damsel in distress, the love interest or all of the above. Now of course there are many exceptions (Marvel's Black Widow being one of them), but with Mera DC has a chance to respond with possibly a bigger impact. Mera can be every bit the hero her husband is and can be more than eye candy. That's were Amanda comes into play. Not only is she an attractive woman, she can be what Aquaman needs. She can ground Arthur, support him, as well as raise him up and stand equally beside him. It takes a very strong and dedicated woman to do that and Amanda can play that well after watching her in "The Mentalist".
Vulko: Kelsey Grammer
I went with Kelsey because Vulko has a distinct wisdom to him as a mentor to Aquaman. So for the role I wanted someone who not only was believable as a politician and royal scholar of Atlantis, but as someone who can guide and help Arthur find his way through his eventual destiny as king of Atlantis.
Atlan/The Dead King: Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson is a wonderful talent because there is no project that he will not make better than what it is. He made the mystery thriller "Unknown" a success and I believe he played a factor in the "Clash of the Titans" remake doing enough good business to get a sequel. Not only can he bring people into the theatres to see this, but he has a role with great depth which can be explored more in the Sequel. Liam would play the first king of Atlantis who was betrayed by his brother, Orin (the royalty that Arthur and his family are descended from). Having to create a powerful weapon to sink Atlantis, Atlan vowed to return for his revenge. This is feel is a great back story to introduce in the first film to set up the second film's story. Not only can Liam bring people in, he can bring people back as well.
Orin: Daniel Craig
Another name that bring people in is Daniel Craig. For the brother of King Atlan who would eventually betray him, the actor for this needs to have an intensity that can stand up to that of Liam Neeson. Daniel Craig can achieve this and I feel he serves as a believable ancestor to Arthur Curry. I can easily see the epic battle for Atlantis between Neeson and Craig.
Atlanna: Diane Kruger
Diane I feel is capable enough to portray the role of Arthur's mother as she has a presence that fits that of the queen of Atlantis. I haven't seen much of her work, but I am enjoying her new show on FX, "The Bridge".
Tom Curry: Karl Urban
And for Arthur's father, we have Karl Urban. Part of this is bias based on the fact that I really wanted to see him another comic book movie (Specifically a film in the DCU where he played a certain caped crusader), so to have him in a film as hero of a different sort would be great. That hero is a father who will raise Arthur to the best of his ability to someday become a hero in his own right.