If you watched the 1970s Super Friends cartoon, then you're probably aware that the show is largely responsible for why Aquaman has been the butt of jokes for many years. One of the images most associated with that era of the hero's history is him riding a seahorse, which has been widely mocked. The Aquaman movie aims to turn that image on its head, because in the DC Extended Universe, it's sea dragons that serve as trusty steeds, and below you can gaze at the first up-close look at one of these amazing creatures.
Our first look at sea dragons in Aquaman earlier this month was from afar, but in this picture, you can really see how incredible these creatures are. If you're engaged in battle underwater, riding one of these beasts is sure to strike more fear into your adversaries than riding a horse would on land. However, it's worth noting that in Aquaman, sea dragons are ridden primarily by the people of Xebel, one of the seven kingdoms that make up Atlantis in the DCEU. Director James Wan explained to EW:
The idea was to turn on its head the idea of Aquaman riding a seahorse, take something for which he was mocked and turn it into something terrifying and impressive. He's a Xebellian creature but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Arthur (Jason Momoa) on one at some point...
Aquaman's main Xebellian characters are Mera, one of Xebel's top warrior's and Aquaman's love interest, and Nereus, Xebel's ruler, so you can bet that both of them are well-trained in riding a sea dragon, which are described as "very strong and fast." But as James Wan teased, hopefully we get to see Jason Momoa hop on to one of these creatures while he's facing off against an opponent or two. Let's replace the image of that Super Friends sea horse with one of the mighty sea dragon carrying our intrepid hero.
Taking place after the events of Justice League, Aquaman will see Arthur Curry embracing his royal duties underwater, only to be caught in the middle between the surface dwellers who threaten the oceans, like David Kane, a.k.a. Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and the Atlantans who want to invade the surface in retaliation, an initiative being led by Arthur's half-brother Orm, a.k.a. Ocean Master, played by Patrick Wilson. Aquaman's cast also includes Amber Heard as Mera, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, Temuera Morrison as Arthur Curry, Ludi Lin as Murk, Michael Beach as Jesse Kane, Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin and Djimon Honsou as The Fisherman King.
Aquaman dives into theaters on December 21, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates. Don't forget to also look through our 2018 release schedule to learn what other movies are arriving later this year.
