It is confirmed that Willem Dafoe will not be returning in DC Studios' upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is the sequel to 2018's Aquaman.

While most of the principal cast from Aquaman is returning for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, including Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, and Amber Heard, they won't be joined by Willem Dafoe.

Willem Dafoe's Nuidis Vulko is the Atlantean who taught the young Arthur his fighting skills and acted as an all-around mentor to the superhero-in-training. Director James Wan exclusively confirms to EW that Dafoe will not be appearing in his sequel.

"Willem is not in this one, no," says Wan, who also directed the 2018 film. "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 role. Atlanna in this one ultimately becomes Arthur's advisor. Because Arthur's not from this world, she helps him better understand the world and the politics of how things work."

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to release on December 20, 2023.