Story Overview

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom centers on an uneasy alliance forged in the face of annihilation. When a catastrophic threat rises that could plunge both the surface world and the oceans into irreversible destruction, Aquaman and his long-estranged half-brother Orm are forced to set aside their bitter rivalry and unite their powers to save their kingdom—and the planet.

After failing to defeat Aquaman in their first encounter, the relentless Black Manta refuses to surrender. Consumed by vengeance, he seeks absolute dominance through the legendary Black Trident, an ancient and malevolent artifact capable of unleashing unspeakable power. Now stronger and more dangerous than ever, Black Manta is willing to sacrifice everything to destroy Aquaman once and for all.

Facing an enemy unlike any before, Arthur Curry realizes that he cannot prevail alone. His only option is to free Orm, the former King of Atlantis and the very man he once defeated and imprisoned. Bound by blood yet divided by ideology, the two brothers must overcome years of resentment and distrust if they hope to protect their people and prevent global catastrophe.

Adapted from DC Comics, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a sequel to Aquaman, the 2018 film that chronicled the rise of Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) as the rightful heir to Atlantis and his conflict with Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson) over the throne. That film concluded with Arthur’s victory, Orm’s imprisonment, and Arthur’s attempt to balance his duties as king with his life among humans.

In this continuation, the story revisits that legacy before shifting its focus to a darker, more personal conflict. Arthur is now portrayed as a devoted husband and father, striving for stability, while Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II)—driven further into obsession by past defeat and personal loss—returns with renewed fury. Armed with the mysterious substance orichalcum and commanding a growing, ruthless force, Manta’s ambitions threaten not only Atlantis, but the entire world.

As Black Manta’s plans escalate toward environmental and global devastation, Arthur is left with a single, dangerous choice: trust the brother who once sought his death. Their alliance becomes the film’s emotional core, transforming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom into a story not only of epic battles and mythic forces, but also of reconciliation, shared legacy, and the fragile hope that even the deepest divisions can be overcome when extinction looms.