Yahya Abdul-Mateen II recently shared a photo of himself relaxing ahead of the upcoming shoot for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The long-awaited Aquaman 2, a sequel to the highest-grossing DC Comics adaptation ever made, will commence filming in July.

James Wan’s Aquaman 2 will see Jason Momoa, Willem Dafoe, and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles from the original film. Meanwhile, Amber Heard is returning to play Mera despite numerous reports stating that she would not be brought back. Pilou Asbaek, who notably played the villainous Euron Greyjoy on Game of Thrones, was cast in a mystery role. While details on the upcoming blockbuster have been kept under wraps, Momoa revealed that he helped develop the script with his writing partner.

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Abdul-Mateen II, who notably received an Emmy Award for his work in HBO’s Watchmen, posted a photo of himself on a bed with a binder open. The caption said, "Aquaman 2," and Abdul-Mateen II set the location to London, which has been the rumored shooting place for the DC blockbuster. While the fast-rising star played a minor role in the first film, Abdul-Mateen II’s David Kane/Black Manta is expected to be one of the main villains in Aquaman 2. The actor previously stated that he hopes Black Manta’s wit and comedic side will be showcased in the sequel.

Created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy, Black Manta debuted in 1967’s Aquaman #35. In the comics, the supervillain was an expert in mechanical engineering and military tactics, and he also possessed superhuman stamina and strength. In the mid-credits scene of 2018’s Aquaman, Randall Park’s Dr. David Shin rescued Kane from the sea. The character holds a vendetta against Aquaman because the Justice League member refused to save his father's life. Wan recently confirmed that Aquaman 2 will premiere exclusively in theatres and not on a streaming platform.

Abdul-Mateen II, who is coming off performances in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Us, is set to appear in the Candyman reboot, Michael Bay's Ambulance, and the Dwayne Johnson-produced action film Emergency Contact. The 34-year-old star will also appear in the untitled fourth Matrix film. The newest installment in the iconic franchise is being directed by Lana Wachowski and will see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their roles as Neo and Trinity. Jada Pinkett Smith, who played Niobe in the second and third films, is also returning. The Matrix 4 comes 18 years after The Matrix Revolutions and The Matrix Reloaded, and 22 years after the first film was released.

Later this year, Abdul-Mateen II will start filming George Miller’s Mad Max spinoff film Furiosa alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. The highly-anticipated film will explore Furiosa’s origins. Miller stated that the 2023 blockbuster will take place over several years and won’t feature Fury Road star Charlize Theron.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released in theatres on December 16, 2022.

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Source: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II|Instagram