DC is trying to replicate the success it had with the smash-hit Wonder Woman with the solo outing for fellow Justice League member Aquaman .

The character has been a bit of a punch line in popular culture over the years, but now with Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa in the part, it seems people may be able to finally take the character a bit more seriously.

With last year's Justice League failing to be the hit DC wanted, it could be a reversal of fortunes for them if Aquaman is the success they hope it is.

So Mirror Online is here to take a dive into all the information we have on Aquaman.

What is the release date?

The film is released on December 14, 2018 just before Christmas and it means the UK gets it before the US - where it comes out on December 21.

Is there a trailer?

There are a few now, but the one at the top of the article is the final and lengthiest trailer.

Here's a teaser of what's to come (
Image:
Warner Bros)

What is Aquaman's plot?

The official plot synopsis confirms when the film is set...

"Following the events of Justice League, Arthur Curry, the reluctant ruler of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, is caught in a battle between surface dwellers that threaten his oceans and his own people, who are ready to lash out and invade the surface."

Sounds like Aquaman will be facing enemies on all sides in his first solo outing!

Aquaman cast

Jason Momoa as Aquaman/Arthur Curry

Jason Momoa as Aquaman. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

The son of a human man and an Atlantean queen, Arthur is reluctant to claim his birthright as King of Atlantis, but faces danger from all sides. He can manipulate the tides, has superhuman strength, can communicate with sea life, and swim at supersonic speeds.

Mamoa reprises his role after his cameo in Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice and his major role in Justice League.

Amber Heard as Mera

The daughter of the King of the undersea nation of Xebel, Mera is a warrior who has been raised by Arthur's mother to be a worthy queen. She can communicate with other Atlanteans via telepathy and has hydrokinetic powers.

Heard reprises her role after her small appearance in Justice League, which showed her first meeting with Arthur.

In the comics, Mera becomes Arthur's wife and Queen of Atlantis.

Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko

Willem Dafoe as Vulko. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

Oscar-nominated actor Dafoe portrays a mainstay of Aquaman lore as Vulko, Arthur's chief counselor and mentor.

In the comics, Vulko was against Arthur being left to live on the surface world as a child, before becoming one of his best friends.

Dafoe had filmed scenes for Justice League, but these were cut, so his debut will be in this film.

Temeura Morrison as Thomas Curry

Star Wars' Jango Fett and Clones actor Morrison will portray Arthur's human father and lighthouse keeper, Thomas.

In the comics, Thomas is traditionally the one who has raised Arthur since infancy, and the film will depict this.

Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus of Xebel

Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

The iconic 1980s action star will appear as the ruler of the underwater nation of Xebel, and is also Mera's father.

In the comics, Nereus is a King of Xebel but instead one that wants to wed Mera and is not her father, although Mera still originates from the nation.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta/David Kane

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

Following his role in the hit The Greatest Showman, Abdul-Mateen II will portray one of Aquaman's best-known nemeses and one of the film's chief antagonists.

Black Manta is a ruthless treasure hunter and a high-seas mercenary with a flair for creating deadly technological innovations.

Over the years in the comics, Manta has changed his motivations various times, but his biggest moment would be his murder of Aquaman and Mera's baby, Arthur Curry, Jr.

Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin

The star of The Interview will portray a marine biologist and close friend of Thomas and Arthur Curry.

Park is also starring as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp film - so he's swinging both ways for Marvel and DC in 2018!

In the comics, Shin was once responsible for revealing Aquaman to the general public.

Patrick Wilson as King Orm

Patrick Wilson as King Orm. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

The Watchmen star reunites with his Insidious director to portray the main antagonist of the film: Aquaman's half-brother.

Orm is the ruler of Atlantis and wants to unite with all of the undersea kingdoms to declare war on the surface world.

Arthur's claim to the throne and relationship with Queen Atlanna is bound to cause conflict.

In the comics, Orm has always been Arthur's step-brother but in some iterations he is entirely human as he is Thomas Curry's son and not Atlanna's.

Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna

Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna. (
Image:
Warner Bros Studios)

The Oscar-winning Aussie star has taken on the regal role of Aquaman's mother and Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna.

It would seem that Atlanna has already passed away by the time of the film, but who knows if there are some surprises to come.

Atlanna's role in the comics has changed over the years, in some she dies before Arthur ever meets her and in others she appears in a supporting role.

Who is the Aquaman director?

Malaysian director James Wan who is best known for his work on Fast and Furious 7, along with The Conjuring and Insidious film series.

Who is the Aquaman screenwriter?

Screenwriter Will Beal who is best known for his work on crime television series Castle and Ryan Gosling crime drama Gangster Squad.

Beal has also penned this year's Venom film and will write the script for the sequel to Conan the Barbarian and the Lethal Weapon reboot.

The film's story was devised by director James Wan and acclaimed comic writer Geoff Johns.

What else do we know?

Warner Bros. film chairman Toby Emmerich told Entertainment Weekly that the film would be ditching the dark and grim tone of the Zack Snyder Justice League films for its own distinct style.

“Just like how [director Patty Jenkins] brought her own sensibility to ‘Wonder Woman’ — yet it was very connected [to ‘Justice League’] — that movie was very much a Patty Jenkins movie this is very much a movie".

Images have been released by Entertainment Weekly which depict Aquaman facing off with Orm, Black Manta tinkering with his suit, an undersea debate between Aquman and his advisors Mera and Vulko, and the moment where Atlanna appears to give baby Arthur to his father Thomas to raise.

The Entertainment Weekly cover is adorned with Momoa, Heard and Kidman in full costume.

Wan also teased what the central thread of the film would be to Entertainment Weekly.

"It’s almost a very classic Shakespearean story about brother from another world vs. brother from another world. And it really is a classic story of sibling rivalry".

Arthur against Orm - who will come out on top?

Theories and rumours

  • The film will be most inspired by the Throne of Atlantis storyline. The acclaimed comic event saw Arthur - who had renounced his Atlantean blood - drawn into a conflict between the surface world and Atlantis. It involved much of Aquaman's supporting cast and saw him fight the likes of Ocean Master and even his friend Nuidis Vulko. This sounds a lot like the film's plot so far, so will Dafoe's character turn against our hero?

  • Aquaman will embrace his role as King of Atlantis by the end of the film. With much being made of Arthur's reluctance to embrace his Atlantean heritage in this film and his scene with Mera in Justice League, it would make the most sense for this to be the crux of his arc in this film, which only really has one end: him being King of Atlantis. What better way to embrace his royal blood than seeing off his evil brother Orm?

  • Arthur and Mera will be at least a couple by the end of the film, if not married. We know these two are destined to end up together due to comics lore, and Atlanna is even grooming Mera to be Queen after her - it's just a matter of time.

  • Black Manta will be set up as the chief antagonist of a potential sequel. It sounds like Orm will take centre stage as the antagonist of the first film, which really makes sense for Aquaman's arc, but there's still good time to set up his arch-nemesis here, and potentially pave the way for the most famous Aquaman story of all - Death of a Prince. Would DC dare to tackle infanticide?

  • Queen Atlanna is already dead. There's no sign of Atlanna in the Atlantis scenes, leaving her sons Arthur and Orm to fight it out, but some have speculated she could be alive and in hiding after all...

(
Image:
Warner Bros/Youtube)
  • There will be a Justice League cameo. DC will probably have a familiar face pop up, but who would be most appropriate? We think Ezra Miller's Flash would be a good shout to quickly pop in and out.

How does Aquaman fit in with the rest of the DC Universe?

(
Image:
Warner Bros/Youtube)

The film follows on from Justice League and, if successful, will likely spawn a series of Aquaman films.

Mamoa will likely return for the Justice League sequel that is under development, but is probably going to be seen first in the Flash-centred film Flashpoint, which will show an alternate universe that in the comics features a global war between Wonder Woman's amazons and Aquaman's Atlanteans.

We would love to see Jason Momoa and Gal Gadot face-off!

Aquaman is released on December 12 2018 in the UK, before it's released on December 21 in the US.

Are you excited to see a film focused on the underwater hero? Let us know in the comments below!