Aquaman 2 is already getting such a lackluster response that many are starting to speculate over how much of a chance for success the DCEU sequel had in the first place. When James Wan climbed into the director’s chair for the Jason Momoa-led movie in 2018, no one knew what to expect. It was the first live-action portrayal of a character most people knew from silly jokes about its titular character. Naturally, the DC movie had a pretty big budget at around $160–200 million. Special effects alone would’ve driven the price up even with much of the production crew allegedly being severely underpaid. However, not even Wan could’ve predicted the movie pulling in almost $2 billion at the box office. More importantly, the response from critics and fans alike was overwhelmingly positive.
Everyone who saw it had a good time, and it didn’t spark enough online outrage to affect those who didn’t. It was, for all intents and purposes, very well-received. Then the scandals started coming, and they wouldn’t stop coming with the new James Wan sequel at the very center of the biggest one which undoubtedly threw a wrench in the whole production process. If it wasn’t possible major casting changes, then it was Momoa expressing disappointment in the story itself. On top of that, filming was still being subjected to rules around social distancing and COVID testing. All these internal struggles were on public display, and it was obvious that they would eventually trickle down into the final product offered to the anxiously-waiting DCEU fans.
Aquaman 2 is the Final DCEU Movie
The planning behind DC movies has left something to be desired for quite some time now. There’s been confusion over which movies count within the DC Extended Universe, which ones don’t, and what this means for the plethora of comic characters at Warner Bros’ disposal. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is slated to be the last of the DCEU movies. Yet, rumors have been floating around that James Gunn will direct Lobo, a DCEU installation with Jason Momoa in the lead role.
So, what does this mean? Aquaman 2 is barely making it to the finish line just to have a release date that fans still aren’t certain won’t be changed beforehand. Now, it looks like the recent shakeups at Warner Bros are leading to another era of DC live-action movies. Momoa’s recent statements even reveal that the uncertainty around the franchise manifested into confusion on the set around the sequel story taking place. If Aquaman 2 is indeed the last DCEU installation, then it’s already proving to be a disappointing one, and it hasn’t even come out yet.
Is there anything left for Aquaman 2 to say?
The mythology around Aquaman is as deep as the ocean surrounding him. Born Arthur Curry, the original character started appearing in DC Comics around the early 1940s. Many of his depictions have been unintentionally hilarious despite later efforts to make him seem more edgy. However, his powers have always included command of the sea, telepathic communication with its inhabitants, advanced senses, and super strength. He is also armed with a hand made of water and his infamous tridents, symbols of his royal status as the son of the Queen of Atlantis.
Not only is there more to say, but enough of it to have changed the current trajectory of Aquaman 2. Jason Momoa spoke with Men’s Health about the 50-page treatment he co-wrote in which Aquaman takes his love for protecting the ocean to the U.N. While that doesn’t sound like a great action movie, it certainly touches on a plot point that could’ve grounded the character and made him more relatable. James Wan wanted Aquaman 2 to “focus on the dark and creepy side of the wide ocean kingdom.” Both stories were rejected in favor of whatever is allegedly leaving screeners feeling let down. The potential of any Aquaman follow-up is there, and it’s strong, but the people giving that story the green light have to be willing to explore it rather than stagnate on what they think fans might find cool.
Is Aquaman 2 a movie that people will care about?
These days, DCEU fans seem to be leaving the theater with more critique than praise. The most common one? That the trailers were better than the final production. There’s especially something fishy going on with the sequels. Shazam, for example, enjoyed rave reviews and performed well at the box office, only for Shazam: Fury of the Gods to fall short with both. While standalone movies like Black Adam and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, the lack of connection between the stories is leaving the franchise feeling disconnected.
It’s hard not to compare the franchise to the MCU because Kevin Feige and co. are essentially showing other studios how it’s done. Sure, the writing sometimes leaves much to be desired and tends to be filled with more jokes than substantial dialogue. Yet, there’s undeniably a collective effort being made to work toward a larger plot. Meanwhile, the DCEU keeps lucking up on one-hit wonders only to follow woefully short in the follow-up. Such a reputation for letting the fans down will eventually catch up. If Warner Bros is lucky, it won’t have severe ramifications until enough viewers have watched Aquaman 2.
The unfortunate truth is that even Jason Momoa being ridiculously handsome and even more charming doesn’t seem like it’ll be enough to save Aquaman 2. It’s being called the boring version of the 2018 original and there are even rumors of viewers walking out in the middle of screening it. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the actor behind the villainous Black Manta, recently caught heat from fans for referring to acting in Aquaman 2 as “clown work” in comparison to his other roles. Mateen walked his words back by sporting a clown nose while heading to the movie set of the historical legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7. Still, one of the lead actors in a movie disparaging the work put into it, even as a joke, doesn’t bode well for what fans can expect when Aquaman 2 hits theaters. If there isn’t a sinister plot from within to destroy the sequel, then maybe it’s its own villain.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2023.