the two part Justice League film. Months later, Heard was confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that she will be portraying Mera. It was announced that the film will be set after Justice League and it will not be an origin story. Wan also stated that he choose directing the film over The Flash. In April 2016, actor Willem Dafoe was cast as Nuidis Vulko. On July 22, 2016, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Will Beall will be writing the film, based on the story treatment from James Wan and Geoff Johns. On August 10, 2016, The Wrap reported that Black Manta will be the film's main antagonist. In September 2016, it was announced that the film will be shot in Australia in 2017. Wan stated in an interview that the film is a "swashbuckling action adventure, sort of high seas adventure story. A quest story in the spirit of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone and there will be a dynamic between Arthur and Mera start off as a love-hate relationship where they don't quite click and as time goes by and they try to work together they get closer and closer". The film went into pre-production in Queensland, Australia in November 2016 and began shooting in 2017. On December 2, 2016, Warner Bros. announced a new release date of October 5, 2018. On December 12, 2016, Deadline reported that Patrick Wilson was cast as Ocean Master. On December 29, 2016, it was announced that Keir Beck and his stunt team would work on the film. On January 31, 2017, Nicole Kidman and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II were cast as Queen Atlanna and Black Manta, respectively. On February 3, 2017, Temuera Morrison was cast as Aquaman's father. On February 20, Wan confirmed it on Twitter that cinematographer Don Burgess, who previously worked with Wan on The Conjuring 2, will serve as cinematographer for Aquaman. On March 16, it was announced that the movie will be delayed from the October release date, to December 21, 2018. On April 12, it was revealed that Dolph Lundgren had joined the film and plays King Nereus of Xebel. Animated Animated theatrical films The Lego Movie Aquaman made a no-line cameo appearance at the end of The Lego Movie. The Lego Batman Movie Aquaman appears in The Lego Batman Movie, at the Justice League 57th Anniversary Party. Although having a slightly larger role than