AQUAMAN: Everything The Latest Issue Of Entertainment Weekly Tells Us About The Movie - SPOILERS

We've delved into the latest issue of EW to bring you huge new details on Ocean Master, Black Manta, shooting "underwater," the big screen debut of The Trench, what to expect from Atlantis, and much more.

By JoshWilding - Jun 16, 2018 06:06 AM EST

Filed Under: Aquaman

Source: Entertainment Weekly

There's been a lot of excitement surrounding Aquaman but with only a couple of official images, it's been hard to get a read on whether or not director James Wan has managed to pull off another Wonder Woman or...another Suicide Squad? Either way, the DCEU's spotty track record has got fans talking but this new info dump from EW points to the movie being nothing short of spectacular.

We've already brought you some new images and details from the site but having delved into the magazine itself, we now have a wealth of new information about what you should expect from it.

Did you know that Ocean Master views himself as an "eco-warrior"? How about how the cast pulled off those tricky underwater scenes...by not being underwater? Oh, and let's not forget the fact that Black Manta will shoot plasma beams and which characters ride around on prehistoric sharks! So, to take a look at this full list of reveals, all you guys have to do is click on the "View List" down button.

The Trench Are Coming

The magazine mentions that director James Wan was able to return to his horror roots by introducing some "subterranean cannibals." If you're at all familiar with the comic books, you'll know that's a reference to The Trench, a monstrous species introduced during Geoff Johns' New 52 run. Seeing as he helped pen the screenplay, it's no great surprise that they'll appear in the DC Comics adaptation.

Jason Momoa Wasn't Happy About One Justice League Line

According to Jason Momoa, he's concerned that his Arthur Curry in Justice League came across as "too grumpy" (he did) and there was one line, in particular, he wasn't happy about and that's when Bruce Wayne made that crack about the future King of Atlantis being able to talk to fish. "I'm like, 'Don't put this line in there, because that's all people are going to say. Do you want me to make him look cool or not?'" Needless to say, we can probably forget about any more references to that moving forward!

"Unite The Seven"

Remember that teaser poster for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice featuring Aquaman and a tag reading "Unite the Seven"? At the time, there was a lot of speculation about whether it was referring to the team of heroes or the seven seas and it now appears to be the latter as the magazine reveals that when Atlantis sank into the ocean, it ended up being split into seven different kingdoms.

How The Movie Begins...

Aquaman kicks off with Arthur Curry living in a small coastal town in Maine. Despite the events of Justice League, he still prefers hanging out in bars over being a superhero and it's only when Mera appears with a warning that his half-brother Orm is looking to declare war on the surface world that he returns to action. It sounds like a great set up and one which definitely has a lot of potential.

The Council Of Kings

A key sequence in the DC Comics movie takes place at a location known as the Council of Kings, an ancient meeting place on the outskirts of Atlantis which has fallen into ruin. It has a lot of historical importance to Orm which is why the villain decides to bring together the various undersea kings there.

There's Plenty Of Humour

Wan considers Aquaman more of a "fantasy" movie than a superhero one and promises a more upbeat tone than the one we got in Justice League. According to the magazine, that means plenty of humour and Jason Momoa was even given the opportunity to ad-lib on set, most of which made it into the film.

Mera Is No Damsel In Distress

Zack Snyder was the one who cast Amber Heard as Mera and it appears as if the filmmaker was the one who convinced her that she'll have the opportunity to play more than your typical superhero movie love interest. "I'm allergic to being the damsel, the two-dimensional archetype of what women are often limited to in this industry, especially in the superhero world," she explains.

"Zack got me at 'warrior queen.' He said, 'You get a sword and a crown,' and I'm like, 'Okay."

Xebel Riders

King Nereus rules over the kingdom of Xebel and his men ride on the back of sea dragons. That's right, sea dragons! Apparently, director James Wan decided to include these creatures in order to subvert the comical image of Arthur Curry riding on the back of a cartoonish seahorse. These beasts are fierce!

Why James Wan Wanted To Direct Aquaman

Wan obviously made the leap from low budget horror movies to blockbuster filmmaking with Furious 7 but what led to him choosing Aquaman as his next project? After all, he surely had lots of offers! Ultimately, it boiled down to wanting to tell the character's story. "Seeing how it was for Jason growing up, being not quite sure how to fit in," he explains, "that was the story I wanted to tell."

Ocean Master's Badass Ride

Patrick Wilson getting to play a villain in Aquaman is an exciting prospect and seeing him suit up as Orm/Ocean Master promises to be a lot of fun. The magazine reveals that he'll ride on the back of a massive, alligator-like tylosaur, while Vulko (Willem Dafoe) mounts a black hammerhead shark.

What To Expect From Black Manta

The magazine reveals that Black Manta uses Atlantean technology to create his suit and that he will be able to shoot red plasma beams from his eyes as a result. Asked what fans should expect from him, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II replied: "He's very intelligent, he's annoying tenacious, and has a lot of emotional depth as well. He doesn't have superpowers which is fun to play with - everything is real and tangible - and it makes him vulnerable, so he always has to be on top of his game."

Ocean Master's Motivations

While Ocean Master may want to invade the surface world so he can rule, well, everything, it turns out that he also has some altruistic motives. "He's kind of an eco-warrior," Patrick Wilson explains. "He's got a very clear gripe with the surface world, which has been polluting his oceans for centuries."

The Challenges Of Shooting "Underwater"

Wan has already confirmed that the characters will just speak underwater - no bubbles! - but what challenges came with making the cast look like they were actually submerged? "It's trying to pretend you're under the ocean in an epic battle while attached to wires, sopping wet after being hosed down on a cold soundstage for 16 hours a day while holding a plank," Heard reveals. "It was a fantastic core workout." That doesn't sound like fun but there's reportedly a lot of wire work.

How Atlanteans Get From A To B

As you've probably figured out by now, great white sharks are the "vehicle" of choice for the Atlanteans. According to producer Peter Safran, "When you see the Atlantean army riding these sharks, it's so photo-real it blows you away." So, this movie's CGI will look quite a bit better than in Justice League then which is a relief considering the fact that Atlantis looked pretty underwhelming.

Will We See Aquaman's Iconic Costume?

When the magazine pushed Wan for details on whether or not Arthur Curry dons his iconic green and yellow costume, the filmmaker played coy, saying only that Aquaman will indeed get a "suit."

However, he then elaborated on that and it turns out he means Momoa's birthday suit! "His birthday suit - he's shirtless a lot," Wan laughs. "Why would I want to put him in any costumes when he looks incredible without costumes?" So, there you have it Jason fans - you're going to love this movie!

Why Aquaman Is Important To Warner Bros.

"It's important that Aquaman works," confesses Warner Bros. film group chairman Toby Emmerich. "And the movies work better. You can't hide the back anymore. You think of how much superhero content there is in theaters and television, it's hard to go someplace you haven't been before - but the underwater world is fresh and different. I think Aquaman worked as a gag in Entourage, but I know it works as a movie." So, there you have it...there's a lot riding on this movie for the studio.

Black Manta's Classic Helmet

The image above confirms that Black Manta will don his iconic comic book helmet but it definitely sounds like he'll serve as a secondary villain in this movie based on these comments from Wan.

"He’s part mercenary but full-time pirate who in his suit will look like some crazy alien from outer space," the filmmaker teases. However, he won't be Aquaman's main antagonist; that honour goes to Patrick Wilson's King Orm. "Black Manta is a really interesting character who is somehow factored into this story but our main story is about Jason and Patrick," Wan explains to the site.

It's Not Like Other DC Movies

"The water world my movie takes place in is so separate and so far apart from previous DC movies it’s like I’m making my own sci-fi fantasy film," director James Wan reveals. "This is a whole new underwater world nobody has seen before in live action." At this point, that's far from a bad thing and getting to see a completely different, not quite so dark, side of the DCEU has tonnes of potential.

Impressive Mera Cosplay Goes Viral Following Amber Heard's Reduced Role In AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

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105 Comments

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JohnnyTBP - 6/16/2018, 6:15 AM

I like what I’m hearing. Comic Con needs to come fast, I need the trailer

Doomsday8888 - 6/16/2018, 6:23 AM

"Mera Is No Damsel In Distress"
SOLD.

MUTO123 - 6/16/2018, 6:24 AM

This and WW 1984 to Justice League:

Roodi - 6/16/2018, 7:04 AM

@MUTO123 - LMFAO

HubbleFunk - 6/16/2018, 11:44 AM

@MUTO123 -

BloodyBed - 6/16/2018, 6:26 AM

“James Wan has managed to pull off another Wonder Woman or...another Suicide Squad?”

Hopefully neither. Hopefully he aims a little higher than WW.

ODanil - 6/16/2018, 6:31 AM

zero hype for the movie, but that was a nice read;

Battabing - 6/16/2018, 6:31 AM

People bring up Aquaman on Entourage,
forgetting that the movie was a massive hit.

Kurne - 6/16/2018, 8:02 AM

@Battabing - yup, they beat Spider-Man (forgot if it was 1 or 2)

Hardfelt - 6/16/2018, 6:33 AM

I really hope this does well. Maybe, just maybe if the DCU can go back to treating each property independently, then we may get some organic growth into a shared universe, rather than it being rushed and butchered. I blame the studio btw and not Snyder.

demery - 6/17/2018, 6:57 PM

@Hardfelt - I blame the studio and the filmmakers.

Dredd97 - 6/16/2018, 6:33 AM

Well, I don't know about anybody else, but I'm excited for this. Looks like they have a firm grasp on these characters. Now just make a good movie.

DaHyro - 6/16/2018, 6:34 AM

This movie looks really good, but I said the same thing about BVS, Suicide Squad, and at one point Justice League.

I'll wait for the reviews.

mistral1 - 6/16/2018, 6:38 AM

I’m soooo excited fr this flick Now, it has so much potencial to bring something fresh and unique to the table as Avatar did in 2009.

ALegendaryPanda - 6/16/2018, 6:38 AM

This movie has so much potential to be a massive hit, and I have faith in James Wan to pull it off. Everything we've seen so far looks incredible.

Wanheda5 - 6/16/2018, 6:46 AM

[...] the two-dimensional archetype of what women are often limited to in this industry, especially in the superhero world." What? The only "damsel in distress" type in cbms in recent years, are Lois Lane and Marta Kent and maybe Jane Foster. That's it. Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Okoye, Agent Carter, Wasp, Gamora, Nebula, Valkyrie, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman and so many others, they're all pretty badass. Amber should feel honored to be joining them instead of trying to feel superior by twisting their image. And as someone in previous comments already said, yeah, the movie doesn't look like a mess, but doesn't look truly great either.

LordDaredevil - 6/16/2018, 7:08 AM

@Wanheda5 - You know exactly what she means. Rachel Dawes, Lois Lane, Betty Ross, Pepper Potts, Mary Jane Watson in the OT and Gwen Stacy in the ASMT, Jane Foster, females have a history of being relegated to damsels in superhero films. That being said you're definitely right about the ones you named but I don't think she was referring to them, and I definitely don't think she's trying to twist any image.

CaptainElrond - 6/16/2018, 7:09 AM

@Wanheda5 - I feel like we are the at the stage where women is saved= equals damsel in distress.

1 2 3

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AQUAMAN: Everything The Latest Issue Of Entertainment Weekly Tells Us About The Movie - SPOILERS

We've delved into the latest issue of EW to bring you huge new details on Ocean Master, Black Manta, shooting "underwater," the big screen debut of The Trench, what to expect from Atlantis, and much more.

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"Unite The Seven"

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There's Plenty Of Humour

Mera Is No Damsel In Distress

Xebel Riders

Why James Wan Wanted To Direct Aquaman

Ocean Master's Badass Ride

What To Expect From Black Manta

Ocean Master's Motivations

The Challenges Of Shooting "Underwater"

How Atlanteans Get From A To B

Will We See Aquaman's Iconic Costume?

Why Aquaman Is Important To Warner Bros.

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It's Not Like Other DC Movies

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