Justice League: Willem Dafoe Plays Aquaman Hero Vulko

Collider

'Justice League': Willem Dafoe Plays a Major 'Aquaman' Hero

By Haleigh Foutch

Published Jun 21, 2016

Dafoe will play one of the most storied, notorious figures in Atlantean society.

If you haven't noticed, it's unofficial Justice League day on the internet. Last week, Warner Bros. invited a number of journalists to visit the London set and get a sneak peak Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice follow-up. Collider's own Steve Weintraub was on hand to tour the stages, observe some filming. Back in April, we learned that Willem Dafoe was making the leap from an iconic Marvel villain (Spider-Man's Green Goblin) to a mysterious DC hero, and while on set, we learned that Dafoe will be taking on the role of Nuidis Vulko.

Introduced in 1967's 'Brave and the Bold' #73, Vulko is the storied scientific advisor to Atlantis who, one of the most notorious political figures in Atlantean society, and a long-running supporting character in the Aquaman comics. Vulko is a key player in Atlantis; a venerated academic and politician who comes from the generation before Aquaman's -- a fact that will be reflected in the character's on-screen design.

Dafoe's Vulko will appear in full-on Atlantean get up, but the character has been redesigned for the film. Rather than his comicbook counterpart's traditional balding, bearded look, Dafoe's incarnation is scruffy with long silver hair. Costume Designer Michael Wilkinson detailed how the character's armor demonstrates Vulko and Aquaman's generational differences -- where Aquaman's is gleaming and gilded, Vulko's is adorned with intricate silver lacing and weathered by the years.

Details of Vulko's role in the film are still being kept under wraps, and it's as yet not confirmed if he will return for James Wan's Aquaman,there's a good chance his story may tie into the Mother Boxes. On set, Snyder revealed that everyone is trying to get ahold of the Mother Boxes in Justice League, and three particularly important ones were left in the hands of the Amazonians, the Atlanteans, and Mankind. As scientific advisor of Atlantean society and one of Aquaman's most respected allies (and occasionally foes), something of such importance could fall directly under his purview.

Catch up with the rest of our Justice League set visit coverage in the links below, and stay tuned for more throughout the week.