James Wan compares Momoa and Wilson’s chemistry in Aquaman 2 to Men in Black

Brotherly love is hard to come by in the superhero arena. While some siblings live for a good old-fashioned team-up, others often find themselves at opposite ends, clawing their way up the family tree for favoritism and supremacy. When DC‘s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom swims into theaters, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson) must set their differences aside and work together to save a kingdom from Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).

Promotion for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is ramping up ahead of the film’s December 22 release in theaters, with horror mastermind James Wan again in the director’s chair. While Wan fills the sequel with many terrifying creatures from the blackest depths, he’s unafraid to inject humor into Arthur and Orm’s combative relationship dynamic. Wan discussed the upcoming film with Collider‘s Perri Nemiroff and compared Momoa and Wilson’s on-screen chemistry to Will Smith (Agent Jay) and Tommy Lee Jones (Agent Kay) from the Men in Black franchise.

Discussing Momoa and Wilson’s tit-for-tat sniping in Aquaman 2, Wan told Nemiroff, “Those two have really fun chemistry together. Again, Jason is kind of loose and wild and just having fun, and Patrick plays it really kind of strict and rigid, so it’s kind of cool to see that contrast. It’s a little bit like Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the Men in Black films. That’s kind of where the humor comes from.”

“Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all,” reads the official synopsis for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. “This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.”

Jason Momoa stars as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family, and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Are you glad to hear there’s heart and humor in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom? Does the thought of Aquaman and Orm behaving like Jay and Kay from Men in Black give you the giggles? We’ll find out if Arthur and Orm are the team-up we’ve been waiting for when Aquaman 2 arrives in theaters on December 22.