Summary
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has the opportunity to provide closure to the character of Arthur Curry, something that no other Justice League member has received as the DCEU comes to an end.
- The upcoming sequel is expected to be a self-contained story, allowing Arthur Curry’s narrative to end in a satisfying place without setup for future movies.
- While director James Wan might have had to make changes due to the uncertain future of the DCEU, it would be nice for audiences to see Aquaman’s story reach a conclusive endpoint if this is the last time they see him.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has the opportunity to give its lead hero something that no other hero got in the DCEU: closure. Aquaman 2 is set to be the final DCEU movie before the universe is rebooted by James Gunn and Peter Safran in 2025. Unfortunately, this means many favorite heroes are being redone with new actors and fresh storylines. Viewers who wanted to see the development of Henry Cavill’s Superman and Ben Affleck’s Batman will have to cherish what they had and move on to a new cinematic universe.
Another character who audiences grew to love is Jason Momoa as Aquaman. The American actor brought a unique approach to the aquatic hero, changing his reputation as the cheesy hero who talks to fish into a rugged, confident hero who commands the seven seas. Since his debut in Justice League, many have enjoyed following his arc in the DCEU, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom can deliver some finality to his character that no other Justice League member received.
No Justice League Member Has Narrative Closure In The DCEU
The DCEU’s success has been rocky throughout its run, and it makes sense that Warner Bros. Discovery, Gunn, and Safran want a fresh start. DC can be highly profitable, but it’s evident by recent box office returns that audience interest in this current universe has diminished to the point of no return. Aquaman 2 could end this universe with a bang, but it also means that several characters’ arcs will end with many questions still unanswered. No member of the Justice League has received any closure, and the universe will end with many underwhelming conclusions for each hero.
Ezra Miller’s The Flash is currently in a new timeline after freeing his father from prison, and there is no way of knowing if he will ever return. Cavill’s last appearance as Superman set up a potential fight with Black Adam, but that isn’t going anywhere as Gunn has recast Superman. Cyborg finally embraced his role as a hero in Justice League, but that was never touched on afterward. Batman and Wonder Woman are carrying on with their lives, but their arcs never received any form of satisfying closure. A few characters have open-ended storylines, such as Peacemaker and Shazam, but it’s unclear if Gunn and Safran will continue them. Gunn has said he plans to do Peacemaker season 2, but things aren’t looking great for Zachary Levi’s time as Shazam after Shazam! Fury of the Gods flopped at the box office.
Why Aquaman 2 Can Actually Give Arthur Curry An Ending
Aquaman 2 has a chance to deliver closure to Arthur Curry’s story. Director James Wan recently shared comments with Entertainment Weekly that suggest the upcoming sequel will be a self-contained story, with the greater implications of the DCEU playing little into the main narrative. Curry’s story could end in a satisfying place without the looming doom of a universal threat, such as Darkseid. However, the outside maneuverings of DC Studios did lead to several reshoots and rewrites as release dates were moved around and the future of the DCEU was in doubt.
Wan might have had to rewrite the movie to end Curry’s story rather than leave it on an open note, so his narrative could continue. However, Gunn remains ambiguous about Momoa’s future as Aquaman, so this movie could still end with a sequel tease if Gunn wants this version of Aquaman to continue. Still, it would be nice for the king of Atlantis to receive closure if Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the last time audiences see him.
Key Release Dates
