Let’s be real. By the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom actually hit theaters in late 2023, it felt like we’d been talking about the cast of Aquaman 2 for a decade. Between the endless release date shuffles, the massive corporate merger at Warner Bros., and some of the most public legal drama in Hollywood history, the movie itself almost became secondary to the people in it. But when you strip away the tabloid noise, what you’re left with is a surprisingly massive ensemble that had to bridge the gap between the old DCEU and whatever James Gunn is cooking up next.
It’s a weird movie. It's basically a "buddy cop" flick underwater.
Jason Momoa and the Arthur Curry Evolution
Jason Momoa is the engine. Without him, this franchise probably doesn't exist in its current form. In the first film, Arthur Curry was the reluctant outsider, the guy who just wanted to be left alone with his Guinness. By the time we get to the cast of Aquaman 2, Arthur is a dad. He’s a King. He’s juggling diapers and diplomatic meetings. Momoa plays this with his usual "dude-bro" energy, but there’s a distinct weariness this time around. He’s not just punching sharks anymore; he’s trying to keep a kingdom from falling apart.
Honestly, Momoa’s performance is the only thing that keeps the sequel grounded. He’s got this specific brand of charisma that makes you overlook some of the clunkier dialogue. You’ve seen him do the action hero thing a million times, but watching him play off a baby or struggle with a suit and tie is where the actual heart of the sequel lives. He’s been vocal about his love for the character, even though rumors have swirled for years that he might jump ship to play Lobo in the new DC universe.
The Patrick Wilson Factor: Why Orm Stole the Show
If you ask most fans who the MVP of the cast of Aquaman 2 is, they’ll probably say Patrick Wilson. It’s funny because Orm was the "bad guy" in the first one. In the sequel, he’s basically the Loki to Momoa’s Thor. Wilson plays Orm with this stiff, Shakespearean intensity that works perfectly against Momoa’s loose, improvisational style.
The chemistry is genuine.
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Director James Wan clearly realized that the best part of the movie wasn't the giant CGI crabs, but the bickering between two brothers who low-key hate each other but have to save the world anyway. Patrick Wilson had to undergo a pretty intense physical transformation too—starting the movie with that wild, "hermit in a desert prison" look before getting back into his Atlantean gear. His dry delivery of lines about surface-world food (yes, the cockroach scene) became one of the most talked-about moments of the film.
The Supporting Players: Who Came Back?
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta: He’s back and he’s much more dangerous. While the first movie was an origin story for his grudge, the sequel sees him fully possessed by the Black Trident. He’s a tragic figure in a way, driven by a singular, obsessive need for revenge that eventually consumes him.
- Nicole Kidman as Atlanna: The Queen remains the moral compass. Kidman doesn't have a massive amount of screen time, but her presence adds a layer of "prestige" to the chaotic underwater politics.
- Amber Heard as Mera: This was the elephant in the room. Despite all the online petitions and the very public court cases, Heard does appear in the cast of Aquaman 2. However, her role is significantly reduced compared to the first film. She’s mostly there to be a mother to Arthur Jr. and participate in the final battle. James Wan maintained that the plan was always to focus on the brothers, but it’s hard to ignore the narrative shift.
- Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus: Still looking incredible at his age, Lundgren provides the "elder statesman" vibe. He’s mostly there to look concerned and ride a giant seahorse, which, honestly, is what we all want from Dolph Lundgren.
- Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin: He’s the bridge between the human world and the supernatural. Park brings some much-needed levity and a sense of wonder that the more cynical characters lack.
Temuera Morrison: The Heart of the Surface World
We can’t talk about the cast of Aquaman 2 without mentioning Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry. In a movie filled with gods and monsters, Tom is just a guy who runs a lighthouse. His scenes with Momoa are some of the most grounded in the whole DC filmography. Morrison brings a quiet, soulful energy to the role. He’s the reason Arthur cares about the surface world at all. Seeing him interact with his grandson gives the movie a stakes-level that "the world is ending" usually fails to achieve.
It’s easy to forget that Morrison is a legend in the sci-fi world. From Jango Fett to Tom Curry, he has this way of making father figures feel lived-in and real.
The New Faces and the Voices Behind the Monsters
While most of the cast consists of returning favorites, we did get some new blood.
Pilou Asbæk—who most people recognize as Euron Greyjoy from Game of Thrones—joined the fray. There was a lot of speculation about his role before release, with many fans hoping he’d play a major villain. While his role as King Kordax (the undead brother of King Atlan) is heavily shrouded in CGI and prosthetics, his menacing presence is felt throughout the third act. He’s the literal ghost in the machine, driving the plot toward the "Lost Kingdom" of the title.
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Then there’s the voice work.
John Rhys-Davies returns to voice the Brine King. There’s something immensely satisfying about hearing Gimli from Lord of the Rings yell battle cries as a giant crustacean. It adds to the high-fantasy-under-the-sea vibe that James Wan was clearly leaning into.
Why the Lineup Felt Different This Time
Production on this movie was a nightmare. That’s not a secret. It was filmed during the height of the pandemic, which meant the cast of Aquaman 2 spent a lot of time acting against tennis balls on sticks in green-screen rooms in London and Hawaii.
There were also reports of extensive reshoots.
When Ben Affleck was spotted on set, people lost their minds thinking Batman would show up. Then, reports surfaced that Michael Keaton had also filmed a cameo as Batman. In the end? Neither of them appeared. The shifting landscape of the DC Universe meant that the producers had to keep cutting ties to other movies to make this a "standalone" story. This left the cast in a weird spot—playing characters in a franchise that was essentially being rebooted while they were still filming it.
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The Controversy and the Edit
You can't discuss the cast of Aquaman 2 without touching on the Mera situation. During the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial, it was revealed in testimony that Heard’s role was "pared down." While James Wan has gone on record saying the sequel was always intended to be a "buddy comedy" between Arthur and Orm, the lack of Mera in the middle section of the film is noticeable.
Whether it was a creative choice or a response to public pressure is still debated in fan circles. Regardless, the chemistry that was a focal point of the first movie is almost entirely absent here, replaced by the frat-boy energy of the Curry brothers.
What You Should Take Away from the Cast Performance
Despite the behind-the-scenes chaos, the actors delivered. Momoa and Wilson carry the film on their backs. If you’re going into this expecting a deep, philosophical exploration of environmentalism (which the movie tries to do, albeit clumsily), you might be disappointed. But if you're there to see the cast of Aquaman 2 lean into the absurdity of the source material, it’s a blast.
The movie works best when it stops trying to be a serious superhero epic and starts being a weird, colorful adventure. Seeing Jason Momoa ride a giant "topical" sea creature while Patrick Wilson complains about his "surface" hygiene is exactly the kind of stuff that made the first one a billion-dollar hit.
Insights for the Fans
If you're looking to follow the careers of this ensemble post-Aquaman, keep an eye on these specific moves:
- Jason Momoa's Future: Watch for official announcements regarding the "Lobo" casting. It’s the worst-kept secret in Hollywood that he’s the frontrunner for the role in the new DCU.
- Patrick Wilson's Directorial Turn: Wilson has been moving behind the camera (like with the Insidious franchise). His technical understanding of filmmaking clearly helped his performance here.
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: He’s quickly becoming one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. Look for his work in more grounded dramas where he can show off the range that was sometimes buried under Black Manta’s helmet.
The legacy of the cast of Aquaman 2 is likely going to be that they were the "last ones out" of a specific era of superhero cinema. They did it with a lot of style, a lot of shouting, and a surprising amount of heart.
To get the most out of the experience now that the film is on streaming, pay attention to the background characters in the Trench and the Brine kingdom. The creature design and the actors under the prosthetics do a lot of the heavy lifting in making the world feel inhabited. If you're a collector, the behind-the-scenes features often show the cast training for the "wire-work" that simulates swimming—it's much more physically demanding than it looks on screen. Watching Patrick Wilson try to look dignified while suspended by harness wires is a masterclass in professional acting.