James Gunn is extremely active in replying to his fans on social media, which acts more as Easter Eggs for fans than anything. Recently, he responded to a fan asking if Tom Holland can be a part of DC anytime soon, naming Aqualad as one of the characters he sees him playing, among others like Best Boy and Kid Flash. Gunn responded, saying he is not sure if a 30-year-old Tom Holland would be up for playing Aqualad, following Spider-Man. 

A new generation of DC heroes could soon take shape under Gunn’s evolving DC Universe, but some of its younger characters come with decades of comic-book history. One of the most recognizable is Aqualad, a name that has belonged to more than one hero and has long been associated with Aquaman’s sidekick.

With such chatter around, who exactly is Aqualad?

Aqualad is not a single character in DC Comics. The name has primarily been associated with Garth, the original Aqualad, and Jackson Hyde, the modern incarnation better known as Kaldur’ahm. Both characters have served as Aquaman’s young protégé, although their origins, personalities, and abilities are considerably different.

Garth was introduced in Adventure Comics #269 in 1960 and became one of the earliest members of Aquaman’s supporting cast. An Atlantean from the Idyllist tribe, Garth was treated as an outcast because of his distinctive purple eyes before Aquaman took him under his wing. He eventually became a founding member of the Teen Titans and developed beyond his sidekick identity, ultimately adopting the superhero name Tempest.

Jackson Hyde, meanwhile, was created for Young Justice and subsequently introduced into the comics around 2010. Often known as Kaldur’ahm, he is typically portrayed as the son of Black Manta and possesses a combination of Atlantean abilities, hydrokinesis, and bioelectric powers. His ability to manipulate water and form weapons from it has made him one of DC's more distinctive young heroes. He has also become an important LGBTQ+ character in modern DC storytelling.

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  While speculation about individual characters and potential casting continues, James Gunn does not appear to be preparing to step away from the DC Universe anytime soon.  

 Jeff Sneider recently reported through The InSneider that Gunn's contract has been extended, suggesting that the filmmaker is expected to remain involved with the franchise for the long term.

"He will [stick around]. He just extended," Sneider said.

The report arrived amid speculation that Gunn's future at DC could be affected by a potential Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Questions surrounding the filmmaker's position have also been amplified by the box-office performance of some recent DC releases. Superman (2025), which was expected by some to become a major billion-dollar hit and serve as a strong launchpad for the new DCU, ultimately grossed around $618 million worldwide. Supergirl, meanwhile, opened considerably below expectations, with its opening global frame reportedly reaching only $62.6 million.

Despite those challenges, Gunn still has a substantial slate of DCU projects ahead of him, including several projects that have yet to be proclaimed. That leaves plenty of room for characters such as Aqualad to eventually enter the new continuity, even though there is currently no confirmed casting connecting Tom Holland to the role.

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Could Tom Holland really be the next Aqualad, or is the role simply too young for the 30-year-old Spider-Man star? Let us know in the comments!