Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has had a rather challenging production journey amidst all the new changes happening with DC Studios, leading to some major confusion about whether the film is even still happening. Starring Jason Momoa, who will reprise his titular role, it’s been expected that viewers will return to Atlantis now that Arthur Curry has become the undersea nation’s king, ready to face a new danger that threatens the seven seas. However, there have been quite a few challenges that have affected the DC sequel.
According to the synopsis for Aquaman 2, Arthur Curry will join forces with an unlikely ally to protect Atlantis from devastation, the ally in question most likely being Aquaman’s half-brother Orm the Ocean Master (played by Patrick Wilson). Filming ended in January 2022 and the film was expected to release in December of the same year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the film to March 2023 and then again to its current release date of December 25th, 2023. Combined with actor controversies and recent test screenings that were reportedly less than positive, it’s no wonder many are wondering if the film will release at all.
Aquaman 2 Hasn’t Been Cancelled: When It Releases In Theaters
Currently, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is still scheduled for release from DC Studios at the end of 2023. As such, it will still serve as the final film before the new DCU era beings as envisioned by new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Likewise, there have also been reports of reshoots with some involving Ben Affleck’s return as Batman, so perhaps DC Studios is looking to integrate the sequel even further with the greater DCU to be more appealing. Regardless, the film has not been canceled despite the delays and the new DCU era on the way.
What’s Going On With DC’s Upcoming Movies
Again, it’s not a surprise that there’s been confusion concerning the status of Aquaman 2, especially after the recent cancelation of Batgirl, which was set to release on HBO Max starring Leslie Grace. Likewise, the reports regarding the film’s negative test screenings don’t convey a lot of confidence either. It’s also important to note that Aquaman 2 is now set to release after The Flash, which comes out June 16th. Considering that The Flash is expected to reset the DC Universe and pave the way for the new era, it’s unclear which version of the DCU Aquaman 2 will actually be set in.
In spite of all this, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is still expected to hit theaters this Christmas, even if Momoa himself is seemingly going to be playing a brand-new DC character in the next few years. This would likely mean that he’ll be leaving his role as Atlantis’ king behind following the upcoming sequel. If that’s indeed the case, here’s hoping DC Studios will be able to leave the Aquaman franchise on a high note.
Key Release Dates
