James Gunn hints Tom Holland won’t want to play Aqualad at 30
With James Gunn shaping the new DC Universe and Tom Holland speculation swirling, the DC hero has a history, powers, and evolution worth a second look.
In a quick back-and-forth with a fan on social media, James Gunn said he isn’t sure a 30-year-old Tom Holland would be up for playing Aqualad after headlining Spider- Man. The fan floated Holland for a handful of teen DC heroes — including Aqualad, Kid Flash and even “Best Boy” — and Gunn replied with the age question mark rather than a tease or confirmation.
There’s no casting here — just Gunn acknowledging the chatter while he keeps building out a younger tier of heroes for his DC Universe. But Aqualad isn’t just one person in the comics, which is why the name keeps coming up whenever fans speculate about the DCU ’s next generation.
Two Aqualads to know
- Garth — Debuted in Adventure Comics #269 (1960). An Atlantean from the Idyllist tribe, he was ostracized for his distinctive purple eyes until Aquaman took him under his wing. He later helped found the Teen Titans and eventually graduated from sidekick status to the mantle Tempest.
- Jackson Hyde (Kaldur’ahm) — Created for Young Justice and introduced to comics around 2010. Commonly portrayed as Black Manta’s son, he mixes Atlantean strength with hydrokinesis and bioelectric powers, shaping water into weapons. Jackson has also become a key LGBTQ+ character in modern DC stories.
Between Garth’s Titan legacy and Jackson’s visually striking powerset — water blades and crackling bioelectricity — Aqualad gives DCU filmmakers a lot of options if and when the character surfaces alongside Aquaman in live action.
What this means for the DCU
Amid the speculation, reporter Jeff Sneider said on The InSneider that Gunn’s contract has been extended, framing the filmmaker’s DCU stewardship as a long-term play.
“He will [stick around]. He just extended,” Sneider said.
The extension talk arrived as fans debated Gunn’s footing after corporate what-ifs and mixed box office headlines. Superman (2025 ) reportedly finished around $618 million worldwide, short of some billion-dollar predictions, while Supergirl bowed well under expectations with a roughly $62.6 million global opening frame.
Even so, Gunn still has a sizable DCU slate in various stages of development, with room for new heroes to enter the continuity. For now, there’s no confirmed casting tying Tom Holland to Aqualad — only a fan prompt and Gunn’s age-based reality check.