‘Aquaman’ Cast: Nicole Kidman Plays Queen Atlanta; Yahya Abdul-Mateen As Black Manta

DC's upcoming "Aquaman" standalone movie is looking at adding another A-list star on its cast. Reports confirm that Nicole Kidman is in early negotiations to portray the mother of Jason Momoa's Aquaman character.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kidman is in early talk to play Aquaman's mother, Atlanta, in the DC film. A source said that it's looking "optimistic" that the actress would pursue the role. The "Lion" actress has reportedly been a top choice for director James Wan for weeks.

In the comic books, Atlanta is from a royal family in the kingdom of Atlantis. When she flees Atlantis, she falls in love with a lighthouse keeper and gives birth to the boy who would grow up to become Aquaman. If ever Kidman seals the deal, this wouldn't be her first role as a DC Comics character. She previously starred in the 1995 movie "Batman Forever," where she played Dr. Chase Meridian, love interest to Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The same publication also revealed that "The Get Down" star Yahya Abdul-Mateen is in discussions to play the main villain Black Manta. Wan and the studio had reportedly met with potential actors to play the role, and Abdul-Mateen is the strongest contender of the bunch.

Aside from Momoa, the movie will star Amber Heard as Mera, Willem Dafoe as Vulko and Patrick Wilson as Aquaman's evil half-brother Marius.

The "Aquaman" plot will center on the story of the King of the Seven Seas. It will pick up after the events in "Justice League," which will be released one year ahead of "Aquaman."

"It's going to be fun, it's going to be really fun," screenwriter Will Beall told Collider. "What we've come up with and James [Wan] especially - he has a really clear idea of the tone he's going to have." He added that "Aquaman" is going to "blow people's mind" both as to the story and the visuals.

A source also said that "Aquaman" is the most challenging movie to make in the DC Extended Universe since a lot of the action sequences will take place underwater.

"Aquaman" will premiere in theaters on July 27, 2018.