Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’sBlack Manta is out for revenge. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II might have been relegated to a much smaller role, as the super-villain, in director James Wan’s originalAquaman(2018), but Black Manta now possesses the awesome power of the Black Trident in the upcoming sequel. “I’m going to kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear,” Black Manta vows in the new trailer. The footage also teases a much darker tone than was present in the first movie. Director James Wan said in an interview withCollider:
“[I] naturally lean into that darker stuff. I felt like the Aquaman films allow me to play in my love for the horror genre, but still make them fun and not necessarily too scary that young kids that may like these films — and not be able to watch because it’s too frightening. [It’s a] fine line — the early Spielberg sort of spirit.”
Wan added:
“Yeah, we can kind of lean dark, but it can also be fun as well. There definitely is sort of shades of that in this world. We’re just leaning into the monsters of it all. But for me, it really is just kind of scratching the surface. It makes me want to do more, put it that way.”
Black Manta isn’t satisfied with just wrecking Aquaman’s (Jason Momoa) worlds, above and below. No, the super-villain promises a much bloodier means to his ultimate end. During the trailer’s footage, Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, can be seen outside of his father’s lighthouse — enjoying a serene life with his dad (Temuera Morrison), mother (Nicole Kidman), Mera (Amber Heard) and his baby boy. But Black Manta’s wrath could shockingly jolt this superhero tale into the realm of horror.
Related:The 10 Best DCEU Movies, Ranked by Story Structure
The Horror of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Black Manta (Abdul-Mateen II) is planning to take an unimaginable revenge onJason Momoa’sAquaman. “I’m gonna murder his family,” Black Manta says in the brand-new trailer forAquaman and the Lost Kingdom. During the footage, the super-villain and his army can be seen celebrating the fiery fall of Thomas Curry’s (Morrison) once majestic lighthouse, as Black Manta raises his trident in triumph, amid the blaze. Is Aquaman’s father inside the demolished structure as Arthur and Atlanna (Kidman) race toward the carnage? Killing off Tom Curry would certainly push the boundaries of the superhero sequel closer to the darker themes and realities more closely related to the realm of horror. And Wan discussed the blending of the superhero and scary movie genres in anexclusive interview with MovieWeb, while promotingInsidious: The Red Door. Wan said:
“I think the fandom between the two worlds kind of crossover. It is interesting that a lot of horror directors have gone on to make superhero movies. A lot of us have crossed over to make superhero films. I think the storytelling aspect is what we gravitate to, and we tell stories that are heightened in the horror genre. We then get to do it again in the superhero genre, and I do think they complement each other very well in some respect.”
Should Tom Curry die, it would certainly crush the Aquaman’s spirit. With the power of the Black Trident in the hands of Black Manta, Arthur must team up with his brother, the former King Orm, aka the Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson), as the one-time enemies join forces to save both the above and the below.Aquaman and the Lost Kingdomopens in theaters on July 19, 2025, andfans can check out the new trailer right now.
