“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” owes a significant part of its revenge-driven storyline to Michael Beach’s character, Jesse Kane, despite his absence in the sequel.
In the original “Aquaman” (2018), Kane’s death sets the stage for his son, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), to seek vengeance against Aquaman (Jason Momoa).
Although Beach discussed reprising his role through flashbacks in the sequel, scheduling conflicts prevented this, and instead, clips from the first film were used to remind audiences of Black Manta’s vendetta.
Jesse Kane in Aquaman (DC)
Beach emphasized the importance of his character’s brief screen time in establishing Manta’s deep-seated hatred for Aquaman. He noted that the father-son relationship was crucial for driving the villain’s motivations across both films.
“We have to build this relationship in order for the hatred to carry us through to not only the first film but the second film,” Beach said in an interview with ComicBook.com.
The future of Jason Momoa’s portrayal of Aquaman is uncertain. With James Gunn and Peter Safran restructuring the DC Universe into a cohesive world across films, TV, animation, and games, Momoa’s role as Arthur Curry might not fit into their new vision.
Jesse Kane in Aquaman (DC)
While promoting “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” in December, Momoa expressed his desire to continue playing the character but acknowledged that it ultimately depends on audience reception and the new direction of the DC Universe.
“I don’t necessarily want it to be the end. I don’t think it’s really, like, a choice. [James and Peter want] to start their new thing up… But right now, I’m like, ‘It’s not looking too good,'” Momoa said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Despite the uncertainty, there is speculation that Momoa could take on a new role within the DCU as Lobo, the alien mercenary and bounty hunter, a character he has expressed enthusiasm for. While this casting has not been confirmed, it remains a possibility for Momoa’s future in the reimagined DC Universe.
