Age: 60
male
Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American actor. His first starring film role was as Jean-Michel Basquiat in Basquiat (1996). His other notable films include Syriana (2005), Lady in the Water (2006), Cadillac Records (2008), The Ides of March (2011), and Rustin (2023). He has also acted in the Wes Anderson films The French Dispatch (2021), Asteroid City (2023) and The Phoenician Scheme (2025), and has played Peoples Hernandez in Shaft (2000), Felix Leiter in the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), and No Time to Die (2021), Beetee Latier in The Hunger Games films, and Jim Gordon in The Batman (2022). He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in American Fiction (2023).
Kaldur—the second Black Manta, once Arthur’s student and the former Aqualad, was believed to have died alongside Orm Marius. When a sudden attack strikes Atlantis, Arthur Curry orders a lockdown. Mera urges caution, sensing a trap, but Arthur leaves the kingdom to confront the threat. He discovers a brutal truth—the attackers serve Black Manta, and Kaldur is alive. Kaldur declares war. He visits Atlantis, warning Arthur and Mera not to resist. Garth, the new Aqualad and Vulko, try to stop him, but Kaldur overwhelms them and kills Vulko. His message is clear—he has returned, and mercy is no longer an option. Haunted by guilt and love for his fallen protégé, Arthur leads one last assault. In a fierce battle beneath the sea, he begs Kaldur to return home. But Kaldur severs Arthur’s hand and whispers, “It’s too late.” Bleeding, Arthur reaches out, saying he won’t fight anymore—that Atlantis can fall with them, together. Kaldur softens—until Arthur drives a coral shard into his stomach using the waves. “You chose your father’s path,” Arthur says, “not mine.” Arthur walks away as Kaldur dies. At Vulko and Orm's graves, Arthur weeps. A vision of Orm appears. “Feel the water,” he says. “Life runs through it. No one is truly gone. Rise, King Arthur.” Arthur reaches to embrace him. But Orm is gone. And Arthur stands, king not just in name… but in soul.
