---
name: "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii"
fi1m_id: "yahya-abdul-mateen-ii"
imdb_id: "nm5584344"
tmdb_id: 1639847
wikidata_id: "Q28655334"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 July 1986"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-21T04:27:13.228932+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

## Identity

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** yahya-abdul-mateen-ii
- **IMDb ID:** nm5584344
- **TMDB ID:** 1639847
- **Wikidata ID:** Q28655334
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28655334, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5584344/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1639847

Actor. Born 15 July 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 July 1986, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- **Active:** 2017–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Amber Heard](https://film.one/person/amber-heard.md), [David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick](https://film.one/person/david-leslie-johnson-mcgoldrick.md), [James Wan](https://film.one/person/james-wan.md), [Jason Momoa](https://film.one/person/jason-momoa.md), [Patrick Wilson](https://film.one/person/patrick-wilson.md), [Peter Safran](https://film.one/person/peter-safran.md), [Rob Cowan](https://film.one/person/rob-cowan.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 73 (5), 2020s 61 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 65 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Action 3, Adventure 3, Crime 2, Fantasy 2, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,473m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28655334, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5584344/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1639847

## Coming up

- *THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH* (2026-11-25) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-further-mis-adventures-of-cliff-booth.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Watchmen*](https://film.one/tv/watchmen-2019.md) (84), [*Us*](https://film.one/film/us.md) (78), [*Aquaman*](https://film.one/film/aquaman.md) (72), [*The Greatest Showman*](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-showman.md) (54), [*Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom*](https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom.md) (45)
- **Disney+:** [*Wonder Man*](https://film.one/tv/wonder-man.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

> Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is most persuasive when a genre role gives him an ordinary need to play. We rate the warmth of *Wonder Man* above the sustained fury demanded of him as Black Manta.

Simon Williams wants work and company, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II makes those ordinary needs worth watching. In *Wonder Man* (2026), his rapport with Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery is the chief pleasure of a superhero series willing to leave room for an actor’s hopes. We warmed to Simon because the pair make those hopes funny without dismissing them. Across eight episodes, the show allows Abdul-Mateen II to do more than establish a mood and keep delivering it.

Black Manta in *Aquaman* (2018) established him in blockbuster cinema. Then came *Watchmen* (2019) and the ensemble demands of *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2020). Nia DaCosta’s *Candyman* (2021) gave him the lead in a horror reboot. These are different demands on an actor, and there is no reason to regard the superhero work as the lesser job. There is, however, a limit to what he can do with a part that keeps asking for the same response.

James Wan’s *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* (2023) is the clearest warning. Abdul-Mateen II supplies the fury required of Black Manta, but the script repeats his grievance and gives a possessed trident too much of the decision-making. We can see the effort; we cannot find enough changes in the part to make that effort interesting. The limitation lies in what he is asked to play, though his commitment does not make the repetition any less wearing.

We would not ask him to abandon genre work on this evidence. *Wonder Man* is still a superhero series, and its gentler treatment of the industry can leave the satire short of bite. Yet its modest stakes suit him: wanting a job is enough to hold our attention when he has Kingsley to work with. We would sooner see him given another good scene partner than another weapon.

## Biography

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor born on 15 July 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is known for his roles as David Kane / Black Manta in the films *Aquaman* (2018) and *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* (2023), Bobby Seale in *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2020), and Morpheus / Agent Smith in *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021).

Abdul-Mateen II won a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance as Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan in the HBO series *Watchmen* (2019). He made his Broadway debut in the 2022 revival of Suzan-Lori Parks's *Topdog/Underdog*, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play. He portrays Simon Williams / Wonder Man in the Disney+ series *Wonder Man* (2026).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (9)

- *By Any Means* (2026), Fi1m 52, as Wayne Strider — [page](https://film.one/film/by-any-means.md)
- *Wonder Man* (2026), Fi1m 82, as Simon Williams — [page](https://film.one/tv/wonder-man.md)
- *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* (2023), Fi1m 45, as Black Manta — [page](https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom.md)
- *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021), Fi1m 66, as Morpheus / Agent Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-resurrections.md)
- *Us* (2019), Fi1m 78, as Russell Thomas / Weyland — [page](https://film.one/film/us.md)
- *Watchmen* (2019), Fi1m 84, as Cal Abar — [page](https://film.one/tv/watchmen-2019.md)
- *Aquaman* (2018), Fi1m 72, as David Kane / Black Manta — [page](https://film.one/film/aquaman.md)
- *The Greatest Showman* (2017), Fi1m 54, as W. D. Wheeler — [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-showman.md)
- *The Handmaid's Tale* (2017), Fi1m 75, as Omar — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-handmaids-tale.md)

## Complete filmography (25)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH* (2026), Actor — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/the-further-mis-adventures-of-cliff-booth.md)
- *By Any Means* (2026), as Wayne Strider — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/by-any-means.md)
- *Man on Fire* (2026), series, as John Creasy · Executive Producer
- *Wonder Man* (2026), series, as Simon Williams — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/wonder-man.md)
- *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* (2023), as Black Manta — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom.md)
- *Ambulance* (2022), as Will Sharp
- *The Matrix Resurrections* (2021), as Morpheus / Agent Smith — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix-resurrections.md)
- *Candyman* (2021), as Anthony McCoy
- *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2020), as Bobby Seale
- *All Day and a Night* (2020), as Big Stunna
- *Watchmen* (2019), series, as Cal Abar — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/watchmen-2019.md)
- *Sweetness in the Belly* (2019), as Dr. Aziz Abdul Nasser
- *Us* (2019), as Russell Thomas / Weyland — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/us.md)
- *Aquaman* (2018), as David Kane / Black Manta — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/aquaman.md)
- *Boundaries* (2018), as Serge
- *First Match* (2018), as Darrel
- *The Vanishing of Sidney Hall* (2018), as Duane
- *The Greatest Showman* (2017), as W. D. Wheeler — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-showman.md)
- *Baywatch* (2017), as Sgt. Ellerbee
- *The Handmaid's Tale* (2017), series, as Omar — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-handmaids-tale.md)
- *The Get Down* (2016), series, as Clarence 'Cadillac' Caldwell
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Karl — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Emergency Contact*, Actor
- *House of Games*, as Producer
- *Liminal*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eva Rinaldi Photography (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-7f7814b5b054.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eva Rinaldi Photography (2017) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II%2C_Eva_Rinaldi_Photography_%2834602031961%29.jpg/1280px-Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II%2C_Eva_Rinaldi_Photography_%2834602031961%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Eva Rinaldi Photography (1) (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-25ffb4fec247.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Eva Rinaldi Photography (1) (2017) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II.jpg/1280px-Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Eva Rinaldi Photography (2) (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-bb91123f8d73.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Eva Rinaldi Photography (2) (2017) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_Eva_Rinaldi_Photography_%282%29_%2834602039651%29.jpg/1280px-Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_Eva_Rinaldi_Photography_%282%29_%2834602039651%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-d07438ffa68a.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-6c55fa4dc512.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-e13fe73f71eb.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-1a164723b3da.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Aquaman", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-f5a909c76d9e.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Aquaman", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_%2828835185707%29.jpg/1280px-Yahya_Abdul-Mateen_II_%2828835185707%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-a74fa752f71b.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-1e5056129023.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB
- ![Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://film.one/media/person/14994/gallery-f78f66c1db7a.jpg) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2020: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Watchmen*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii