Summary
- James Wan reveals that the character Karshon in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be different from the comic version.
- Filmmakers have often made changes to the source material, and it may be interesting for fans to see what elements are kept and discarded.
- Speculation arises that Karshon could still team up with Black Manta in the sequel, as the supervillain seeks revenge on Aquaman.
James Wan has opened up about how Karshon, one of the new characters introduced in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, will be a little different from how they are in the comic. Wan’s latest film will be a sequel to 2018 superhero hit, and will see Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) facing off against David Kane, aka Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). While Black Manta is traditionally Aquaman’s archenemy in the comics, they won’t be the only rogue that Arthur faces in the movie. Another one of the villains will be Karshon (Indya Moore), who is primarily known as the Shark in the source material.
In the comics, Shark was introduced in 1963’s Green Lantern #24 as an ordinary tiger shark that was exposed to radiation via an atomic blast. The Shark subsequently gained a more humanoid form and psionic abilities that allowed the Shark to manipulate matter and increase his own intelligence by feeding off others. Retaining an animal’s bloodlust and wanting a challenge, the Shark came into conflict with Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, becoming a long time foe of the Justice League.
The Shark would face off against Aquaman after it somehow regained it’s mutated form and started posing as an Atlantean named Karshon. Teaming up with Black Manta and Ocean Master, played in the Aquaman films by Patrick Wilson, Karshon plotted to steal the throne from Aquaman and even managed to overthrow the superhero for a short amount of time. So how is the character of the Shark, aka Karshon going to be different in the superhero sequel?
As Wan explained to Empire Magazine (via The Direct):
“This Karshon is not a shark character. It’s different [from] the comic books in that sense. One of the things we wanted to do, now that Arthur is king of Atlantis, is to give him barriers within the political world. Karshon comes from the High Council, and is like a political roadblock for Arthur.”
How Will DC Fans Feel About Such Major Changes to Karshon?
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
The follow-up to the smash hit DC adventure Aquaman, starring Jason Momoa as the King of Atlantas.
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Director
- James Wan
- Cast
- Jason Momoa, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison
- Writers
- David Leslie Johnson, Paul Norris, Mort Weisinger
Some might find it surprising that the filmmakers would take a character literally named the Shark in the comics and have them not be a shark in the film. Of course, something it’s within every filmmakers right is to make changes to the source material, as has already been the case with numerous DC films in the past. Besides, it may be interesting for comic fans and audiences to see what elements will be carried over as well as noting the ones that have been discarded.
For instance, Karshon could still team up with Black Manta in the sequel. We know that the supervillain is vying for revenge on Aquaman for his father’s death, and Black Manta is likely to need help in trying to take down the king of Atlantis. Especially when it comes to the political side of the battle. Wan has also teased that “In his quest to find ways to destroy Arthur, Black Manta…stumbles onto something.” That something could involve Karshon, though of course that’s pure speculation at this point.
Directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, and starring Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 22, 2023. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below:
