With the first images of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom released, we get to see Patrick Wilson’s Orm sporting a completely new look, and here’s what his appearance reveals about the film.
The upcoming DC Extended Universe film is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 Aquaman. Although it won’t hit theaters until late 2022, production has already given us early glimpses of the Aquaman 2 cast.
Initial teasers from director James Wan introduced Jason Momoa’s new Aquaman suit. After revealing a darker, edgier look for Momoa’s character, we now get a look at Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother, and what he’ll look like in the sequel.
While Arthur Curry sports a clean new outfit, the first look at Ocean Master shows him shirtless on a beach with long, dirty hair and a scruffy beard. He’s wearing loose, brown pants. This is a huge departure from the polished Atlantean king we saw in the first film, where Ocean Master had short, neat hair and wore silver-purple armor. So why does Orm’s appearance change so much in the sequel?
In the comics, Orm is Aquaman’s half-brother and shares the same Atlantean powers, including the ability to live underwater and immense strength. Besides these natural abilities, he wields a trident that shoots magical energy blasts, and his helmet can control water currents. Orm is a formidable rival to Aquaman but has a weakness: he can’t survive long on land. Being away from water for too long drains his powers.
Orm’s new look in Aquaman 2 likely ties directly into his story and how the first film ended. Aquaman defeated Orm in a battle for the throne of Atlantis, and after that fight, Arthur imprisoned his half-brother.
The new appearance suggests Orm has been in prison since then and hasn’t cut his hair. The length of his hair indicates he’s been locked up for quite a while, meaning he’s not ready to face Arthur yet. Despite years of imprisonment, Orm’s physical condition looks strong.
In the first Aquaman film, King Orm became the ruler of Atlantis and was a warrior defending its ecosystem. He had a clear perspective on the surface world, blaming it for polluting the oceans for centuries. Because of this, he planned to attack and destroy the surface world to protect his own. Aquaman, being half-human, strongly opposed this plan.
Besides Orm’s messy hair, his outfit and location also hint at his status in Aquaman 2. He’s no longer wearing royal Atlantean armor or any Atlantean clothing. His pants look like old human clothes, suggesting he’s not imprisoned in Atlantis.
The beach setting might mean Orm was exiled from Atlantis and is being watched by Atlantean soldiers. In this scenario, Aquaman could be making sure Orm can’t interfere with his rule or maybe giving him a chance to see the surface world differently, which Orm has always despised.
Whether imprisoned or exiled, Orm’s role in Aquaman 2 could be very interesting. In either case, Black Manta might free him in exchange for teaming up to take down Arthur Curry. This could lead Orm down a path opposite to what Arthur expects. If that happens, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might turn Orm into a new antihero in the DCEU.
Warner Bros. confirmed Aquaman 2 is scheduled for release on December 16, 2022. The first Aquaman was a huge success, telling the story of a lesser-known DC hero and building a vibrant, epic underwater kingdom. It paid off: Forbes reported Aquaman’s box office surpassed other big DCEU titles like Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman, ranking it 20th among the highest-grossing films ever.
