As with any comic book movie, there are many rumors about DC's upcoming "Aquaman." However, there is one particular claim that has been bugging director James Wan: the film will have three villains. On Thursday, he finally set the record straight.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about how many full-blown villains will actually be in the film, Wan said: "I don't have three villains. I think that's ridiculous!"
It has been widely speculated that Jason Momoa's superhero would be butting heads with a trifecta of characters including Patrick Wilson's Orm/Ocean Master, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Black Manta, and Dolph Lundgren's Nereus. While he does not outright deny that these characters would be on Aquaman's bad side, Wan says there will only be one primary adversary in the movie.
It is one thing to throw several primary villains at the protagonist during their first standalone movie, but in Wan's mind, three is just too much. "I would never go into an origin movie with three villains," he explained. "We don't even know the main character let alone the world and its antagonist. I believe in taking baby steps."
Indeed, non-ensemble superhero films do not have the best track record in featuring multiple three villains like "Spider-Man 3." In all likelihood, the two other characters will simply be agitators acting on the sidelines, with Manta working as a general to Orm.
"We know Black Manta is in there, but I will say this: Patrick Wilson is the main antagonist in this film. I wouldn't necessarily say 'villain,' but he's the antagonist."
Wilson was officially cast as Ocean Master last December. His character is Aquaman's half-brother who is determined to do whatever it takes to seize the throne of Atlantis. "Aquaman" serves as his debut in the DC Extended Universe.
Also starring Amber Heard as Mera, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, and Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, the film will open in theaters on Dec. 21, 2018.
