I think that everyone, when they first laid eyes on Jason Momoa's whisky-swilling AQUAMAN, were forced to do a double-take. After all, I feel as if we'd all agree that the newest version of the Justice League alum is not your daddy's friendly aquatic Doctor Doolittle. At least that's what James Wan wants you to think, as the FURIOUS 7 and SAW director has recently come forward to set the record straight, regarding his aspirations for redefining the character in this new cinematic age of superheroes.
While speaking with The Wrap, Wan told the entertainment outlet that, “Momoa is not a guy that you would go up to and make fun of,” Wan says. “I really think you immediately remove any of the stigma of the character from the cartoons that we are familiar with.” I wholeheartedly agree with the previous statement. I would not, under any circumstances, aim to piss off Jason Momoa. That dude looks like he could go Dothrakian on your ass at any given moment. Nah, I'd settle for a fist bump and then I would buy the man a drink.
Wan quickly followed up on the previous statement by adding, “Having said that, I’m not completely unaware of the stigma,” the AQUAMAN helmer admitted. “If anything, I embrace it and being able to laugh at yourself and have fun at yourself is important and that’s something I am aware of as I make ‘Aquaman’ right now.” Hell yeah, man. Go all out with AQUAMAN, I say.
Recently, our own Editor-in-Chief, Paul Shirey, visited the set of AQUAMAN. While there, Paul was afforded the opportunity to hold the hero's most iconic weapon, his trusty quindent. Be on the lookout for our coverage from the set of AQUAMAN soon!
As someone who's been following Aquaman in the comics since Geoff Johns stellar revitalization of the character at the start of the DC New 52, I'm excited to see what Wan and Momoa have planned for the character. For me, The Throne of Atlantis arc by Johns was some of the best superhero work I'd read in 2011, and helped to turn me around on the character completely. Furthermore, the current run of Arthur Curry's adventures by writer Dan Abnett and artist-to-the-stars Stjepan Sejic plays like a complex underwater Game of Thrones. For real, it's not a bad time to be picking up some AQUAMAN. I recommend starting with issue #25 of the DC Rebirth initiative.
Seriously, look at this guy, he uppercuts his foes with megaladons for Pete's sake!
AQUAMAN starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren and more will swim into theaters beginning on December 21, 2018.