Black Manta Revealed in New Aquaman Photo

Entertainment Weekly has released our first look at pirate and mercenary David Kane, a.k.a. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) from DC’s upcoming Aquaman, which you can check out in the gallery below! The character’s name in the comics was known as David Hyde but has been changed for the film, although his trademark suit still shoots red plasma beams from its eyes.

“He’s part mercenary but full-time pirate who in his suit will look like some crazy alien from outer space,” director James Wan said, clarifying that Black Manta is the secondary antagonist after Aquaman’s half-brother King Orm (Patrick Wilson). “Black Manta is a really interesting character who is somehow factored into this story, but our main story is about Jason and Patrick.”

An icon for over 70 years, Aquaman is the King of the Seven Seas. This reluctant ruler of Atlantis, caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, is committed to protecting the entire globe.

The Aquaman cast includes Jason Momoa (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League) as the titular King of Atlantis, with Amber Heard as his wife Mera, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Ludi Lin as Murk, Patrick Wilson as King Orm/Ocean Master, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman as Atlanna and Michael Beach as Jesse Kane.

Directed by James Wan from a script by Will Beall, Geoff Johns and Wan, the film is being produced by Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Rob Cowan, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers. Rupert Gregson-Williams (Wonder Woman) will compose the music.

Aquaman opens on December 21 in theaters everywhere.