AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Ripped As He Preps For Black Manta Return

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is looking seriously ripped as he heads to the gym to prepare for his return as Black Manta, while Jason Momoa speaks out to defend superhero movies.

By JoshWilding - Aug 04, 2021 03:08 AM EST

Filed Under: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Cameras have already started rolling on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in the UK, and star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is clearly hard at work preparing to suit up as the villainous Black Manta again.

As you can see in the workout photo below, the actor is in phenomenal shape for his DC Extended Universe return and should be more than a match for Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry, the new King of Atlantis. We always knew this sequel would feature a rematch between the two, with 2018's Aquaman setting the stage for their rivalry to continue playing out on screen.

Talking of Momoa, he recently spoke to the New York Times and defended superhero movies.

"It's like how people say that music is poppy, and this music is cool. But you know how hard it is just to get your music out there for people to hear? It's all subjective," he said. "So, yeah, superhero movies are bubble gum, but they're like Greek mythology: They have good and evil and heartbreaking moments. And, gosh, you're taking away other art forms if you stop making them. You're taking away visual effects, you're taking away what you can do with makeup."

"I'm not someone who gets hired to play in a lot of cinema, but by being able to do a superhero movie, I can make a movie about something I really care about. I have a vision for the whole totality of Aquaman. There are environmental issues that I get to put into it. So while you're going, '[It's] just this popcorn movie,' I'm like, 'Well, I get to open people's eyes to things that are important to me.'"

Momoa makes a lot of compelling points here, and his comments make a lot more sense than those shared by Martin Scorsese, for example (the filmmaker appears to hate superheroes with a passion).

We just hope Jason has been spending as much time in the gym as his formidable-looking co-star...

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A post shared by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (@yahya)

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31 Comments

DeadClunge - 8/4/2021, 3:26 AM

Hopefully this time there's less cheese

KWilly - 8/4/2021, 3:29 AM

He's definitely my pick for the Marvin Gaye biopic coming out.

SimplyAz - 8/4/2021, 3:56 AM

Dudes been in amazing shape for a while.
Would love for him to have his own action franchise, think he's charismatic and charming enough to do so

tmp3 - 8/4/2021, 4:26 AM

@SimplyAz - He’s in great shape, but not so out of control that he looks like he’s on special supplements like a lot of these superhero guys lol. Maybe he’s a fake natty, but I’d be surprised if he’s juicing ngl - it looks achievable with good discipline. Great actor too

Superspecialawesomeguy - 8/4/2021, 4:30 AM

@SimplyAz - If he wasn't already in Aquaman he would defo be my pick for Icon.

SimplyAz - 8/4/2021, 4:36 AM

@tmp3 -

Definitely looks very good.
When you look at his day to day pictures, he seems to be in the shape that someone who trains a lot is in.

SimplyAz - 8/4/2021, 4:37 AM

@Superspecialawesomeguy -

That would be amazing.

bkmeijer2 - 8/4/2021, 4:35 AM

Gotta be honest, he makes a pretty compelling argument. Didn't even think about it that way, even when it resembles my own argument of that every movie, no matter how good or bad, always has a team working on it that's put effort and hard work into it (which can't be taken away, no matter how much it is slandered).

Anyway, I'm ready for more Black Manta. Although I don't want to see his arc fulfilled in this movie, especially since the movie's focus probably lies elsewhere. Manta deserves to be the main villain in a third movie in my opinion.

slickrickdesigns - 8/4/2021, 5:34 AM

Looking mean and lean… hopefully he gets a better chance to look cool in this movie. Dude looks like he could knock out Mehmoa in real life.

WakandanQueen - 8/4/2021, 5:44 AM

Damn he fine

marvel72 - 8/4/2021, 6:16 AM

I loved Black Manta in the comics and Aquaman,one of the best costume designs ever.

Super12 - 8/4/2021, 6:22 AM

Really looking forward to seeing more of Black Manta in the sequel. They set him up really well to be a formidable nemesis of Arthur, hope they deliver on that. His suit & performance were A+

MrKayDeeBee - 8/4/2021, 7:56 AM

If Marvel had decided to recast T'challa, I think he would have been perfect!

Skrull - 8/4/2021, 11:02 AM

What I'm waiting to see is Black Manta taking revenge on Arthur by killing Aquababy. An eye for an eye, a son for a father. It would be retributive justice.

RitoRevolto - 8/4/2021, 11:37 AM

Oh, that's nothing. You should see him in HBO's Watchmen. *eyebrow waggle*

4thMaster - 8/4/2021, 3:08 PM

My god!

blitzburgh - 8/4/2021, 6:22 PM

Still my favorite DC movie

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Ripped As He Preps For Black Manta Return

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