Aquaman is likely the least popular member of the Justice League. In fact, his character has been the source of jokes in various forms of media for years. But with Jason Momoa ("Game of Thrones") bringing him to life for the first time on screen in next year's "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice," the King of Atlantis appears to be going through a gritty reboot of sorts. Just check out his new look.
Pretty badass, no?
Momoa himself had some words at a panel at Fan Expo in Canada this weekend for his character's detractors.
"You know, it's cute and funny, I mean people make fun of him and there's a bunch of jokes about him," Momoa said. "But I'm like 'Well...just wait. Let's just wait a little bit. And then we can make jokes.'"
Momoa appears confident that the DC Extended Universe's version of Aquaman will not be the same fish whisperer we've come to know and snicker at. Director Zack Snyder clearly wants his King of Atlantis to be more grounded and considerably edgier. In fact, rumors suggest that Momoa's Aquaman, along with Bruce Wayne's Batman, have a bone to pick with Henry Cavill's Superman thanks to the damage General Zod's world engine caused to the oceans. Pitting him against our boy in blue to start off is an interesting way to introduce the character and is ripe with dramatic opportunities.
Momoa admitted that while his onscreen iteration will borrow elements from popular Aquaman comics from the past, the character will be a new imagining in order to challenge the perceptions some fans may have. And it's not as if Aquaman is a joke himself. He has strength and endurance that can rival Superman's, the ability to communicate with sea life, and is the leader of a massive technologically advanced underwater kingdom. On paper, that sounds pretty cool. On screen, we'll have to see if the character lives up to Momoa's expectations.
"Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" will hit theaters on March 25, 2016. Aquaman will then make a cameo in "Suicide Squad" as well as being a part of the two-part "Justice League" series and his own solo film between 2016 and 2019.
