Some superhero movies require more setup work than others. A Batman movie has to introduce one hero, his butler, assorted Gotham locals, the villain, and maybe a sidekick. Aquaman has all that and seven kingdoms worth of politics, war, history, and strife. Someone could make a Game of Thrones series of Atlantis and its six siblings. King Nereus appears in the film and will return for the sequel, but he's a slightly different character in the DCEU.
The Aquaman franchise is considered the last holdover from Zack Snyder's DCEU. Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry was introduced in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice's flash drive trailer montage. He returned for both versions of Justice League and his two solo films by James Wan. This iteration would be tied to Henry Cavil's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman, leaving his future fate unclear. Momoa might be back to play Lobo, but his Atlantis may sink into the depths after this year.
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Who is Nereus in Aquaman?
Nereus is the king of Xebel in Aquaman. He's a supporting character who doesn't fit comfortably onto a good or evil side. He has a few key scenes. Nereus is Mera's father, but his primary role is as a ticking clock element for Aquaman to fight against. Nereus is a powerful king with consistent disdain for the people of dry land. Orm Marius, Arthur's half-brother who serves as the main antagonist, seeks military support to declare war on the surface world. He must gather four undersea kings to his banner to achieve his ends. Nereus is initially unwilling to offer aid, distrusting Orm's visible lust for power. A Russian submarine attacks a council meeting. Orm saves Nereus, convincing the king to change his mind and pledge his support. With that choice, Nereus becomes a secondary antagonist behind Orm.
Mera tries to talk Nereus out of supporting Orm, her arranged husband-to-be. Nereus' love for his daughter is his most dominant characteristic. When Mera betrays Orm to aid Arthur, the kingdom mistakenly declares her dead. Nereus threatens to call off his military arrangement if any harm befalls Mera. He doubles down on Orm's brutal plan to seize power when she returns. Nereus attacks the peaceful Fishermen Kingdom, murdering armed guards, while Orm assassinates their king. He only prevented Orm from killing the Brine King because he believed negotiating would be more strategically viable.
Aquaman, Mera, and a sea monster interrupt Nereus and Orm's battle against the rebellious Brine Kingdom. Mera attacks Xebel's soldiers, leading Nereus to call them off. She explains that Aquaman has the ancient Trident of Atlan, securing his claim to the throne of Atlantis. Nereus backs off and allows Arthur to fight Orm in a ritual duel. After Arthur wins, he leads his people to reunify under Arthur's new Atlantis. Nereus is a gullible, extreme guy who approaches everything with absurd commitment. He seems to believe whatever the last person he talks to tells him. Orm arranged the attack that convinced Nereus to join him, and the king never considered that possibility. His most redeeming quality is his love for Mera, but he's a living embodiment of the myopic ignorance of those in power.
Nereus in DC Comics
Nereus was introduced in Aquaman (vol. 7) #19 in 2013. He arrived as part of the New 52 reboot event. He's the military leader of Xebel under King Ryus. Xebel is trapped in a mystical barrier in the comics, making Ryus' reign significantly less impressive. Atlantis contains Xebel in the Bermuda Triangle, sparking a years-long quest for vengeance. The film juggled character roles in a strange way. Ryus is Mera's father in the comics. Nereus is the man she's arranged to marry. Like in the DCEU iteration, Mera betrays her father and fiancé to marry Aquaman. She's ordered to assassinate Arthur, but she abandons the quest and lives in Atlantis until long after her father dies. Nereus takes the throne and tries to order Mera's execution. A villain arrives, and Nereus again partners with them against his best interest. This version of the character is more sinister than the DCEU iteration. He's spiteful, power-hungry, and cruel. Nereus is a minor figure who will not grow beyond his station anytime soon.
In the comics and the movies, Nereus is a figure who allies himself with terrible people to achieve goals that may or may not be self-destructive. The film provides him with a charitable reading by portraying him as incompetent and gullible. The comics are more direct, setting him up as the guy Mera ditched to marry the hero. One of the unique things about Aquaman is that he's a superhero and a sovereign ruler of a country. There aren't a lot of those. His enemies tend to be cruel pretenders to the throne, people who want his power to accomplish their terrible ends. Nereus demonstrates the kind of passive evil a monarch can get up to without someone just wearing the crown.