10 Riskiest Upcoming Casting Choices (And Why They Will Work)

The Risk

Just as with Michael B. Jordan taking up the mantle of the Human Torch, much of the controversy around Jason Momoa as Aquaman revolves around a polarising race switch, and with it, an almost unrecognisable character design. There are other issues at play here, however.

Without much of an acting pedigree to speak of, a lot of what establishes Momoa in popular culture rests on his now four-years removed run as Dothraki Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. Even to the most casual of viewers it seems clear that the DCU are banking a lot on being able to shoehorn Momoa back into that particular mould, but is that really beneficial to either party? 

Momoa is yet to truly break out since his run in Thrones came to an end, and reverting to type is rarely the answer.

The Reward

Aquaman is, without doubt, one of DC’s most mocked and derided mainstream characters. The character’s success in this dark cinematic universe was unlikely to be attached to the orange-and-green laughing stock most casual comic fans interpret the superhero to be. Clearly, a new direction was needed, and playing on Momoa’s somewhat tribal appearance has, at least, quickly summarised the direction DC are looking to with this new iteration.

Knowing if this radical redesign will pave the way for a successful Aquaman interpretation is, of course, still some considerable time away, but the early signs point to a positive reinvention. Overstated, maybe, but with Aquaman’s presumed muted role within the DCU (compared to that of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman) the subjection to Momoa’s Drogo MkII may be just limited enough to act as a worthwhile supporting role.