Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brings back most of the cast from the first movie, but there is one notable absence: Willem Dafoe's Vulko.
We knew this before the DC sequel's release as, shortly after the first trailer was released, director James Wan confirmed in September 2023 that Dafoe didn't reprise his role. However, it was unclear how the movie would deal with his absence.
Now that Aquaman 2 is out in cinemas, we know what happened to Vulko but it's in such a throwaway moment that you might have missed it.
So with mild spoilers, here's the fate of Vulko explained, as well as why Dafoe didn't come back.
Why isn't Willem Dafoe's Vulko in Aquaman 2?
Early on in the sequel, Aquaman is told that there have been multiple plague outbreaks across the sea's population. It's linked to increasing levels of greenhouse gases, causing the ocean to absorb more carbon dioxide.
He's told it's the result of the "surface poisoning our atmosphere", but it's later revealed that it's actually Black Manta's use of the ancient fuel Orichulcum which emits huge quantities of greenhouse gases when burned.
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We're told that one such plague killed Vulko, who died before he could see Aquaman unite the surface world and Atlantis as he always dreamed of him doing.
It's such a throwaway remark that we wouldn't blame you for missing it.
The reason for this is that Vulko was probably originally planned to come back for the sequel, given his close relationship with Aquaman as his mentor.
However, Wan revealed in September 2023 that Dafoe was unable to return due to a scheduling conflict.
"Part of the reason was because his schedule did not work out for us. But what that allowed me to do was expand on Atlanna's [Nicole Kidman] role. Atlanna in this one ultimately becomes Arthur's advisor," he explained.
"Because Arthur's not from this world, she helps him better understand the world and the politics of how things work."
For more Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom coverage, check out:
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom review
• How long is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?
• Is Amber Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?
• Does Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom have a post-credit scene?
• What's happening in the new DC Universe?
• How to watch DC movies in order
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is out now in cinemas.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
