In 2018, Aquaman made what one could only describe (if one could be so kind as to pardon the pun) as a splash at the global box office, grossing over 1.1 billion dollars and cementing its place as the all-time highest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe. The all-star cast, which featured performances from the likes of the talented Amber Heard (Pineapple Express) and brilliant character actor Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), was inarguably carried by the hugely muscular, facially scarred, all-around herculean Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones).

Based on characters previously found in the pages of DC comic books, two villains found their way onto the silver screen and into a series of action-packed brawls with Momoa's titular hero. Fans of DC and the Aquaman were delighted by an on-screen appearance of one of the hero's mortal enemies, Black Manta. Portrayed by Yahya Abdul Mateen II, this villain is first introduced when Aquaman confronts Black Manta, David at the time, and his father's crew of modern-day pirates as they attempt to board and plunder a Russian submarine.

Following the attack, Black Manta is given a powerful suit of Atlantean armor, complete with the character's infamous bug-eyed black helmet, which he uses to wreak havoc on a small Italian village. Additionally, Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, The Conjuring) puts in a stunning performance as Orm Marius, an Atlantean king and half-brother to Aquaman. His villainous arc comes to a head in a head-to-head trident duel.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trailer revealed some plot details about the upcoming film. In contrast to other superhero sequels that tend to bring on a new villain, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is instead bringing back previous villains for another go around. Let's look at which characters we will see on the big screen when the film premieres in December.

Update November 1, 2023: This article has been updated following the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and what to expect in the final film in the DCEU set for release in one month.

Super Genius Scientist Stephen Shin

In the first Aquaman film, character actor Randall Park (The Office, The Interview) plays a former officer for the United States Institute of Marine Science. He was terminated from the department for his radical notions, mainly claiming that Atlantis was plotting an attack on us land dwellers. Ridiculous, of course. It's confirmed that Randall Park will return to reprise his role, although the size of his part in the film is currently unknown. This will come as no surprise to those who saw 2018's Aquaman: Stephen Shin, in a mid-credits twist, is shown to have rescued the presumed dead Black Manta from the Italian sea where our hero so gently deposited him.

In the surprising scene, the disgraced scientist asks for information regarding Manta's Atlantean suit. In exchange, he promises to bring the vengeful, black-clad villain straight to Aquaman. Shin currently has not been featured in the trailers, so it might be that his part is small and instead might be double-crossed by his partner and the film's true villain, Black Manta.

Black Manta Returns and This Time He's Juiced Up

Yahya Abdul Mateen II's Black Manta takes center stage as the lead antagonist in the story. While his return was expected, it wasn't clear how much he'd have to do with this production. After playing second fiddle to Orm in the first film, Black Manta seems to have found a weapon known as The Black Trident, which grants him control of a new undersea species.

The Black Trident will play a significant role in the apparent powered-up state of Manta. We currently have yet to learn how the villain gets his hands on this relic, but we see the effects the trident has on him. Manta seems able to command his own army and the creatures from the Trench who proved to be formidable foes for the king of Atlantis in the first film.

Rumors abound and circulate on different forums, but the trailer implies the time jump between the last film and this one has made Aquaman a father, something that's taken straight out of the comics. Many of the theories thrown around seem to indicate that Aquaman will lose his son to Black Manta in this film, just as it happens in the comic books. This would certainly be the darkest scene in any superhero movie, yet even without that scene it appears Aquaman is in for a major battle with his greatest enemy.

Orm Marius Returns, But He's a Good Guy Now

Another villain making his grand return is Orm, played by Patrick Wilson. The former contender to the Atlantis throne has been sent to confinement in the desert away from any water source. Aquaman rescues his half-brother to wage war against Black Manta. It makes sense for Arthur to want an experienced ally on his side, especially since he's the one who souped up Black Manta in the first place.

Let's recall for a moment that Manta was nothing more than a mercenary hired by Orm in the first film. He and his father are left to die by Aquaman after trying to capture a Russian submarine. He's later hired again by Orm to pursue Arthur and kill him before he lays a claim to the throne again after escaping with Mera. Orm is the one who gives Manta full access to Atlantean technology.

Orm is back also because he's more familiar with undersea politics. As seen in the trailer, Orm tells his brother he's the bearer of the Atlantis Trident, and we call upon the seven kingdoms they all must rally behind him. There is a chance the movie will offer Orm redemption, similar to Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

King Sharks

One shot in the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom sees Arthur Curry and Orm standing alongside bipedal shark people. This might be the Shark Kingdom that King Shark from The Suicide Squad hails from. While it is unlikely that King Shark himself will appear (although that certainly would be a great cameo), this certainly will help tie the soon-to-be-ending DCEU together in a more cohesive way. Interestingly, the Shark in the trailer is a Hammerhead shark., which was the popular design of King Shark in the comics for years.

The Black Trident's Role

With Black Manta being confirmed as the main villain for Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, it's safe to assume the relic he holds for most of the trailer plays a significant role in the story. The Black Trident belongs to an undersea kingdom that has been erased by history. The trident might be increasing Black Manta's power and rage towards Arthur, driving him to fight without thinking about the planet's sake.

In the comic books, The Black Trident was a cursed weapon used to disrupt undersea life. It belonged to a character named The Dead King, who sought to bring every undersea Kingdom under his control by turning every living being into a creature from the Trench. This background has likely been changed for Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, but it's safe to say a few elements will make their way into the story.