Remember a few weeks ago when Game of Thrones alum Jason Momoa literally laughed at the idea of playing Aquaman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice? Well, as it turns out, he was just being coy, because according to HitFix, he is “totally” playing Aquaman in Zack Snyder’s upcoming Man of Steel sequel, and will have an expanded role in the forthcoming Justice League film as well.
Warner Bros. hasn’t made the announcement official just yet, but HitFix seems pretty confident in their report, saying that Snyder has “already finalized his designs for the character so shooting can take place soon.”
Momoa has long been rumored for the role, so this doesn’t come as a complete shock. Personally, I think he’s a pretty great choice for the part, and I’m incredibly excited that we’ll finally be seeing Aquaman on the big screen. One of the problems with bringing the king of Atlantis to life is having to compete with the negative assumptions that general audiences have about him. Bringing someone like Momoa into the role will surely keep any worries about Aquaman’s cheesier elements at bay, while allowing Snyder to show off the character’s badass edge that comic book readers have been enjoying for decades now.
HitFix also shed some light on how Aquaman may factor into the events of BVS. He reportedly won’t have a large role, but will contribute to how the movie shows the consequences of Superman’s battle with Zod in Man of Steel. Lex Luthor will likely use the destruction caused in Metropolis as a way to paint Superman as a monster and a dangerous threat, while Batman will probably confront Supes on a more philosophical level, questioning his decision to snap Zod’s neck.
Aquaman offers a through-line into another one of Man of Steel’s major set-pieces: Superman’s battle with the World Engine. As you may remember, it appears to have done some serious damage to the Indian Ocean, leaving our sea-bound superhero pretty upset about it.
Unfortunately, it will likely be some time before we hear concrete information about Snyder’s plan for the character, though recent reports suggest that big announcements await us at San Diego Comic-Con. Until then, though, let us know how you feel about Momoa’s casting in the comments section below!
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives in theaters on May 6th, 2016.