The Get Down’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Talks for Aquaman’s Black Manta!

January 31, 2017

The Hollywood Reporter brings word that The Get Down star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in early talks for the role of Black Manta in Warner Bros.’ upcoming Aquaman movie. The film is already high into pre-production, with the Australia-based production set to begin soon.

Black Manta was created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy in “Aquaman” #35 in 1967, and though the character fought the King of Atlantis for decades, it wasn’t until the 1990s that he was finally given an origin, which has changed over the years since. Originally Black Manta was a child abused by a ship’s crew that he was a member of, seeking revenge against Aquaman as an incarnate of the sea, but recent iterations of the character have seen him blaming Aquaman for his father’s death and seeking to kill the hero for revenge.

The character doesn’t have an actual super powers but is an adept fighter with great strength. His trademark suit, however, allows him to swim across the deeps of the ocean and to fight Aquaman on his home turf.

Aquaman will be directed by James Wan with Jason Momoa taking on the title role. He’s joined by Amber Heard as his wife Mera with Patrick Wilson playing his half-brother Orm, and Willem Dafoe set to play advisor Vulko.

Aquaman will splash into theaters on October 5, 2018.

(Photo Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com)