Aquaman 2: Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom, starring Hollywood action star Jason Momoa, is releasing next week on December 22. The highly anticipated superhero movie based on DC's comic character is a sequel to the 2018 superhit flick of the same name.

Directed by James Wan, Aquaman was originally a billion-dollar hit and established Jason as a solo star. The sequel is the 15th and final installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), and after much delay, the film is set for its release.

So, ahead of its release, let's see some details from the making of Aquaman.

Who is Aquaman?

Actor Jason Momoa, who plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman is a half-Atlantean and half-human character inspired by an American comic strip superhero. He is a defender of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and a sometime member of the superhero consortium Justice League of America.

1- Jason wanted Temuera Morrison

Jason Momoa, after finding out that his onscreen father would feature prominently in Aquaman, specifically requested the film producers cast New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison in the role. Morrison is one of Momoa's idols as an actor and is an internally celebrated actor known for playing Jango Fett in the Star Wars prequels.

2- Actor Karl Urban Was Considered for the role of the Ocean Master

The Ocean Master is the main villain in Aquaman, and another New Zealand actor, Karl Urban, was considered for the part. Urban has been a part of several superhero films, like Dredd and Thor: Ragnarok. However, the role ultimately went to Patrick Wilson, who previously worked with James Wan on the Insidious and The Conjuring franchises.

3- Several Black Manta scenes were cut

Another antagonist character, Black Manta, originally had a lot of screentime, but several scenes of the character were chopped off in the final cut. In the original script, its role was fleshed out, but later, when the test audiences thought that it was too much in the film, director James Wan focused more on the Ocean Master conflict in the first part of Aquaman.

4- Nicole Kidman said yes to the role when she was to play a 'Mermaid Warrior'

Actress Nicole Kidman, who plays princess Atlanna in Aquaman, accepted the role as soon as James Wan told her that the character was a "mermaid warrior."

5- Batman was supposed to have a cameo

In the early stages of development, Aquaman intended to provide a more detailed portrayal of the Atlantean invasion of the surface world. A particular sequence, which was initially storyboarded but later omitted, involved Batman arriving in a jet to defend Sydney against the invaders.

About Aquaman 2

Aquaman 2 will see actors Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and others reprising their roles. The film's synopsis reads, "After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction."