Philippine Showbiz Today
December 22 , 2018 - January 7, 2019
Jan. 22-Feb.7, 2015
‘Aquaman’ in Manila
The King of Atlantis
Hawaiian-born actor Jason
Momoa is bringing diversity into
the superhero world by playing
half-surface dweller, half-Atlantean
Arthur Curry otherwise known as
Aquaman.
The 39-year-old actor was
in Manila together with co-star
Amber Heard and director James
Wan for the Asian premiere of
their latest film, an action-packed
adventure that spans the vast,
visually breathtaking underwater
world of the seven seas.
“I can’t believe that we’re
almost in 2019 and there is no
brown-skinned superhero. It’s the
biggest honor to represent the
islands and to represent diversity,”
Momoa told the crowd at the jam-
packed SM Mall of Asia Music Hall
during the film’s fan meet.
Aquaman is a colossal warrior
who learns of his rightful claim
to the throne of the underwater
kingdom of Atlantis but is also a
self-ascribed outcast both above
and below the oceans’ surface. He
lives his life as Arthur Curry, a man
raised by his surface dweller father,
Tom, despite being the first-born
son of Queen Atlanna. His very
existence provides a potential
bridge between the dwellers of the
sea and the surface, but it will be
up to him one day to unite them.
“Like Arthur, I was a half-breed,
split between Iowa and Hawaii, so
I could definitely identify with that.
And from the Philippines to Hawaii
to Tahiti and Fiji… Many islands
have their celebrated water gods.
That resonated with me instantly,”
Momoa related his diverse ethnic
background to his character.
Working together, Wan and
Momoa sought to deliver a big
screen take on the iconic DC super
hero that honors his comic book
roots, but is also a reinvention for
today’s movie audiences, living in
today’s world.
From the start, the director
suggests, the two shared a
unique understanding of Arthur’s
own dilemma. “Why I think
Jason really connected with this
character is his being of two
worlds himself,” said Wan, who
also grew up divided between two
different cultures.
“Jason is a Hawaiian who
grew up in middle America. He
never quite felt like he fit into either
world. And that’s something I
understand as well, as an Asian
guy born in Malaysia who grew
up in Australia. Having such a
strong Australian upbringing, I’ve
retained my Chinese/Malaysian
heritage as well.”●
- N. Wang, MS
MOMOA AT MOA: Aquaman director James Wan, Amber Heard and Jason Momoa in Manila.
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