New pics from Aquaman unveil Black Manta

While we wait for the first trailer from forthcoming DC movie Aquaman, we can now get our first look (via Entertainment Weekly) at who will be joining Jason Momoa’s Atlantean hero in the aquatic blockbuster.

And here’s villainous mercenary of the high seas and ‘ruthless treasure hunter’ David Kane, aka Black Manta, played byYahya Abdul-Mateen II, who will face off against the denizens of Atlantis.

There’s also a first snap of Amber Heard’s Mera, who with her hydrokinetic and telepathic powers accompanies Momoa’s Arthur Curry on their quest to the surface world.

Meanwhile, Insidious star Patrick Wilson plays Ocean Master, Aquaman’s corrupt half-brother who, in wishing to wage war on the surface world, will be the movie’s main villain.

There’s also a shot of Nicole Kidman, who’s playing Atlanna, the Queen of Atlantis, cradling the young Arthur Curry.

Also starring, but not yet pictured, are Willem Dafoe as undersea scientist and Aquaman’s mentor Nuidis Vulko, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus as Mera’s father.

Meanwhile, Moana and Star Wars star Temuera Morrison (he played bounty hunter Jango Fett), is Thomas Curry, Aquaman’s human father.

A trailer is expected to arrive soon, having already been unveiled to attendees of the CineEurope conference in Barcelona this week.

It’s expected that it will get its first proper public showing at the San Diego Comic Con in July.

Momoa gave a snapshot of the plot to Comicbook.com earlier this year: “The only thing that can save Atlantis is me fighting my own brother [played by Patrick Wilson].

“There’s a big battle, and there’s an epic [fight]. It’s also a big road movie, because we travel all over the world.

“It’s got that Star Wars quality of gigantic ships and guys riding sharks. It’s going to be this whole world you’ve never seen before. You’re going to see him start as this guy who probably rides bikes, works on cars. You get to see him this one way as kind of a dirty, dark, drunkard, and then turn into this regal king.”

Directed by James Wan, it’s due out in the UK on December 14.

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