When an actor lands a geekworthy role, it can be intense, what with pressure to live up to the source material and blockbuster pedigree of such films. And yet, in the case of Aquaman actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, his upcoming performance as the villainous Black Manta has him absolutely jazzed. You can clearly see it on the man's face, as he's shared a photo of himself sporting some massive research materials, which you can see for yourself in the post below.
The overjoyed look on Abdul-Mateen II's face comes from a response to a recent Twitter Q&A he held with fans in general, which contained some talk about his upcoming battle against Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa. With the James Wan-directed film marking the latest big ticket project in his corner, the man's career is on the rise. So part of that smile is more than likely the fact that another bout of good fortune has shined on his latest efforts. Of course, looking into the task he's about to undertake in the world of DC Comics, that's probably another part of the story.
Through various incarnations, Black Manta has had a grudge against Aquaman, be it due to his lack of assistance upon being abducted by the underwater world, or as a vengeful son who is looking to avenge the death of his father. No matter the incarnation, Black Manta wants to seriously put some hurt on Arthur Curry, and he's armed with the skills and the equipment to do just that. It's just a shame that Aquaman will be squaring off against some massive, world-threatening forces in Justice League, which might give him the advantage.
Still, if anyone could give Jason Momoa a run for his money in Aquaman, it's certainly Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. While you may not be able to see it in this Instagram post, a survey of his profile yields the following photo, which truly shows how jacked he is. If the caption, "Under Construction," is anything to go by, we might just see Abdul-Mateen II in even fitter form by time his showdown under the sea makes it to our screens.
Aquaman conquers the seas and screens on December 21, 2018. Though you'll be able to see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in this summer's Baywatch, as well as on Netflix's The Get Down.
