Mere days after Warner Bros.’ long-term plans for bringing the DC Universe to the big screen leaked out, a rumor surrounding the casting of their next major cinematic production is starting to take on the shape of nothing but the truth.

If the rough release schedule hashed out by DC Comics and Warner Bros. that we first glimpsed this week is accurate, then that means that the upcoming Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice will not be a direct sequel to last year’s Man of Steel, but a proper launching pad for the inevitable Justice League film being targeted for release the next year. Both features will be directed by Zack Snyder.

So far we know that Henry Cavill will return as Superman, Ben Affleck has inherited the mantle of the Dark Knight Detective, Gal Gadot is playing the first silver screen incarnation of Wonder Woman, and Ray Fisher has been cast in the role of Cyborg. Ryan Reynolds will not get a do-over in the role of Green Lantern (which is all for the best), and whoever ends up playing the Flash will not be affiliated with the character’s latest television adaptation premiering this Fall on the CW.

Jason Momoa of Game of Thrones fame has been linked to the project since December with rumors having him taking on the part of the monstrous Doomsday – best known as the destructive beast who killed the Last Son of Krypton in the November 1992 issue of Superman – and the heroic Atlantean warrior Aquaman. Momoa has long denied his involvement in Dawn of Justice, but Drew McWeeny at HitFix has solid intel that the actor will definitely be in the movie and as Aquaman to boot.

Though the casting of Momoa has yet to be officially confirmed*, director Snyder has reportedly finalized the designs for the character of Aquaman (who may not be referred to by that name, for now anyway). The oceanic superhero’s appearance in Dawn of Justice will likely be a brief one and tied to the larger plot of the film and how it was affected by the events of Man of Steel, specifically the damage done to Aquaman’s precious sea by General Zod’s world engine.

I hope this is true because Momoa is an inspired choice for the Aquaman role and it further signals to skeptics that Snyder and the studio are treating this massive Avengers-scale project with tremendous grandeur and respect. Momoa has both the acting chops and the screen presence to make audiences take a character long treated as a joke seriously again. We may get an official confirmation soon though DC/Warners may also hold off making the announcement until next month’s San Diego Comic-Con, where I have a feeling they’re going to have quite the media presence this year.

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice will open in theaters on May 6, 2016.

*UPDATE: While DC hasn’t made an official announcement, Variety has confirmed the news of Momoa as Aquaman in Dawn of Justice.

[Source: HitFix]