Manila welcomes Aquaman cast, director
NINETEEN-year-old JC has been a DC Comics fan since grade school. On the afternoon of Dec. 11, he went with his uncle to SM Mall of Asia for the “Aquaman in Manila” fan event where the actors of the film based on the DC Comics title and the film’s director were to meet lucky fans. JC and his uncle stood at the back of the activity center, trying to get a glimpse of the stage across a sea of excited fans. JC clutched a movie poster hoping to get the actors’ autographs.
For 30 minutes, actors Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, and director James Wan greeted fans and signed autographs at the SM Mall of Asia music hall. They were in the country for the Asian premiere of Aquaman.
Aquaman is the origin tale of the superhero, following Artur Curry who discovers his true identity as half-human and halfAtlantean. Curry is challenged to take his place as king and fight against his half-brother Orm before he unites seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world. Director James Wan told fans that they could expect “amazing action and visuals,” while actress Amber Heard, who plays the Xebellian princess Mera, mentioned a fight scene where “Aquaman and Mera are in town” as her favorite and most challenging stunt in the movie.
For actor Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman, bringing diversity into the superhero world was a valuable takeaway from playing the role.
“I can’t believe that we’re almost in 2019 and there is no brown-skinned superhero,” Mr. Momoa, who hails from Honolulu, Hawaii, told fans. “It’s the biggest honor to represent the islands and to represent diversity.”
The DC movie also stars Patrick Wilson as Orm, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, and Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna.
Aquaman is now showing in theaters nationwide.
Thanks to the crowd, it is unlikely that JC got his posters signed.