With the first images of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom released, we can see that Patrick Wilson’s portrayal of Orm has a completely new look, and this is what his appearance reveals about the film.
The upcoming film in the DC Extended Universe is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 Aquaman. Although the film won’t hit theaters until the end of 2022, the start of production has given us first looks at the stars of Aquaman 2.
The initial “teasers” for director James Wan’s sequel showcased Jason Momoa’s new Aquaman suit. After the darker new look of Jason Momoa was revealed, we continued to get a glimpse of Aquaman 2, showing how Aquaman’s half-brother Orm will appear.
While Arthur Curry has a fresh new outfit, the first look at Ocean Master shows him shirtless on the beach with long, dirty hair and a scruffy beard. He is also wearing baggy brown pants. This is a very different appearance from the style of the King of Atlantis that we saw in the first film, where Ocean Master sported a neat short hairstyle and wore a silver-purple armor. So, why has Orm’s look changed so much in the sequel?
In the comic version, Orm is the half-brother of Arthur Curry (Aquaman), possessing powers like other Atlanteans, able to live underwater and wield tremendous strength. Along with these natural abilities, he also wields a trident that can shoot magical beams, and his armored helmet has the ability to control water currents. Orm is a formidable opponent for Aquaman, but he has a weakness: he cannot survive on land for too long, as prolonged distance from water will strip him of his powers.
The reason for Orm’s new look in Aquaman 2 should directly connect to his story and how the first film ended. Aquaman defeated Orm in battle to reclaim the throne of Atlantis, and after their confrontation, Arthur put his half-brother under house arrest.
Orm’s new appearance reflects that he has been in prison since that time and has not cut his hair. The length of his hair suggests that Ocean Master has also been imprisoned for quite some time, meaning that since that battle he has not been fully ready to talk to Arthur. However, despite possibly being confined for years, it is clear that Orm’s physical condition has not deteriorated.
In the first Aquaman film, King Orm became the ruler of Atlantis, a warrior protecting the ecosystem. He had a very clear view of the world above water, where those who have polluted his oceans for centuries reside. Thus, he wanted to attack and destroy the world above to protect his own. But Orm’s plan to attack the surface world was something Aquaman—who has half-human blood—vehemently opposed.
Besides Orm’s messy hair, his outfit and positioning may also reflect his state in Aquaman 2—he is no longer in the Atlantean royal armor, and Ocean Master is not wearing any Atlantean clothes. His pants look like old human clothing, which may suggest that he is not imprisoned in Atlantis.
The beach setting could suggest that Orm has been exiled from Atlantis, always being watched by some Atlantean soldiers. In this scenario, Aquaman may want to ensure that Orm cannot interfere with his rule or gain a new perspective on the land dwellers he has always despised.
With Ocean Master either imprisoned or exiled from Atlantis, this could lead to an intriguing role for him in Aquaman 2. In either case, Orm might be freed by Black Manta in exchange for collaborating to take down Arthur Curry. This could potentially lead Orm to go in a direction opposite to what Arthur imagines. If that is the path Orm chooses, then Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may turn him into a new anti-hero of the DCEU.
Warner Bros. has confirmed that Aquaman 2 is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2022. The first Aquaman was highly successful on many fronts, including telling the story of a lesser-known DC hero and building the image of a vibrant and grand underwater kingdom. And clearly, it has reaped the rewards: Forbes reported that Aquaman’s box office surpassed other big names in the DC Extended Universe such as Suicide Squad, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and achieved the 20th position in the all-time highest-grossing films list.