Having made his name in the horror genre, at first glimpse James Wan may seem an unlikely choice to helm a big budget comic book movie.
Wan grew up on a diet of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and James Cameron films, and says that his goal has always been to make those kind of movies.
"Horror is definitely the best way to break into the industry but I became synonymous with it, so people had a harder time seeing me for anything else," he says.
The director gives his horror partner-in-crime, Leigh Whannell, a cameo as a pilot in Aquaman, also casting Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, king of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the vengeful Black Manta; and Patrick Wilson as Orm/Ocean Master, the present king of Atlantis.
Pitching it as somewhere between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings but underwater, his only caveat was monsters.
Aquaman is in cinemas Boxing Day.