Following his defeat at the hands of Aquaman (Jason Momoa) in the first film, David Kane (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is hellbent on repairing his Black Manta armor so that he may exact his revenge on the King of Atlantis. Fortunately — and with the help of marine biologist Dr. Stephen Shin (Randall Park) — he uncovers the Lost Kingdom of Necrus, frozen for eternity in the Arctic by King Atlan (Vincent Regan). Imbued with superhuman physical abilities by a cursed black trident belonging to Necrus’ wicked ruler and Atlan’s brother, King Kordax (Pilou Asbæk), Kane sets out to free the forces of the Lost Kingdom and earn the power to kill Arthur Curry and his entire family.
He begins his quest by stealing and then burning an ancient, environmentally destructive power source known as Orichalcum, emitting unparalleled amounts of greenhouse gasses that expedite climate change and melting the Lost Kingdom of Necrus out of its Arctic prison. Arthur — who has sired a son with his wife, Queen Mera (Amber Heard), since “Aquaman” — becomes aware of Kane’s plan after he attacks Atlantis, and breaks disgraced former Ocean Master Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson) out of a desert prison to help track down and stop Black Manta. By the time they’re able to break into his facility and learn of his full plans, it’s too late — Manta has destroyed Arthur’s home, critically wounded his human father (Temuera Morrison), and stolen his infant son.
