Meet The Secret Villain Of Aquaman And What He Plans To Do

In the recently released trailer of the upcoming Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, declares his intent to eliminate Aquaman, driven by a vengeful quest that originated in the 2018 Aquaman film. Blaming Arthur Curry for his father’s demise, Black Manta strikes a pact with the enigmatic King Kordax, revealed as the nefarious Lost King. The trailer further teases Kordax empowering Manta to seek retribution, promising the destruction of Aquaman’s world. Having been rescued by Dr. Shin, Black Manta assembles a crew to pursue his mission.

Now, in a recent conversation with DC Nation, Abdul-Mateen, the American architect and actor who portrayed David Kane/Black Manta in Aquaman and its sequel, has shared insights, highlighting Manta’s ongoing resentment and the need for additional assistance. To enhance his capabilities, Black Manta seeks Atlantean technology globally, aiming to rebuild his suit for the impending confrontation, he reveals.

Watch the teaser here:

“He still has the hate, the passion, and the rage, but he needs more help. So, he’s got a whole army of new cats and he’s travelling all over the globe to find more Atlantean technology because he has to rebuild his suit," says Mateen.

The narrative introduces King Kordax and his long-lost undersea realm, the titular Lost Kingdom.

Unlike the trident quest in the previous film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom centres around the Black Trident, a cursed relic forged by Kordax through dark arts. Unveiling the backstory, Abdul-Mateen narrates Kordax’s claim to the throne, the forging of the malevolent trident, and its rediscovery by Black Manta’s crew.

The plot takes a dark turn as Kordax’s spirit possesses Black Manta, posing a significant threat to Aquaman’s realm and his lineage. To liberate Kordax, Black Manta must eliminate Aquaman’s family, including his mother Atlanna, half-brother Orm, and young son, the heir to Atlantis.

In exploring the origins of King Kordax, the article draws from the DC comics, portraying Kordax as the forsaken offspring of Dardanus and Cora of Atlantis. Born with a sea creature’s appearance and gifted with telepathic abilities, Kordax rises to become the ruler of Tritonis, home to the Merpeople.

As Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom approaches its theatrical release, the storyline promises a gripping tale of vengeance, ancient relics, and the perilous consequences of striking deals with malevolent forces.