Summary
- The upcoming DCU reboot renders any Justice League hero’s possible appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom pointless.
- The Justice League’s absence in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom can be explained by their inability to breathe underwater and the challenges they would face in Atlantis’s extreme depths.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a standalone story that focuses solely on Aquaman’s personal conflict against Black Manta and his rule over Atlantis.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom doesn’t seem to feature any DCEU Justice League member other than the titular King of Atlantis. The DCEU is officially coming to an end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which focuses entirely on Aquaman’s battle against his archnemesis, Black Manta, and mostly takes place deep underwater. Apart from all of Atlantis and the aquatic lifeforms its king commands, Aquaman’s only superpowered allies in the 2023 sequel seem to be his brother Orm, his wife Mera, and his mother Atlanna.
The last time the Justice League appeared onscreen in the DCEU was in The Flash, where Barry Allen teamed up with Batman and Wonder Woman to catch a Gotham terrorist, saw Superman in a news report, and went out for drinks with Aquaman during The Flash‘s lighthearted post-credits scene. After The Flash, Blue Beetle centered exclusively on Jaime Reyes, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom now follows Arthur Curry in a fully standalone story. But while the Justice League’s absence in the DCEU’s final installment stands out, there are clear real-life and in-universe reasons behind it.
Most Of The Justice League Can’t Breathe Underwater
Even if Aquaman’s Justice League colleagues were available, none of them would be able to do much underwater. In Man of Steel, Superman survived unconscious underwater for several minutes after saving a group of workers from a collapsing oil rig, and he likely used his super speed and endurance to find his way back to shore — all that before learning how to fly. However, Superman’s extraordinary lung capacity isn’t the same as an ability to breathe underwater. Likewise, Wonder Woman’s physiology is superhuman, but breathing underwater isn’t among her special abilities. Batman and the Flash, of course, are limited by their human bodies.
In the source material, Justice League heroes often wear masks during outer space and underwater missions. Still, the Justice League would need special suits to endure Atlantis’ extreme depths. And even then, they wouldn’t be as strong or as fast as a regular Atlantean, so they would likely end up slowing Aquaman down during combat. Apart from the technical aspects, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Black Adam, and The Flash confirmed that Superman and Wonder Woman are busy with their superhero duties across various continents, and Barry Allen is busy exploring the multiverse in Central City.
Cyborg’s Electronics Wouldn’t Do Well In The Sea
The one DCEU Justice League hero who could be able to help Aquaman underwater in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may be Cyborg, whose Mother Box technology allows him to adapt to any scenario. Cyborg’s body can provide him with a mask, underwater propulsion, and pressure-regulating devices. However, any damage to Cyborg’s body could result in disaster, as it isn’t specifically designed for underwater combat. If Cyborg’s mask malfunctions, for example, what’s left of his human body would immediately succumb to the ocean’s extreme conditions, and only Mera’s hydrokinetic abilities could be able to help him survive if she’s able to reach him in time.
Ray Fisher’s complicated history with Warner Bros. has kept Cyborg away from recent DCEU releases. The actor has publicly criticized Justice League‘s theatrical cut director Joss Whedon, producers Geoff Johns and John Berg, and former DC Films president Walter Hamada, claiming unprofessional behavior from all involved during Justice League‘s production. Since then, Cyborg was written out of The Flash and hasn’t been considered for other supporting roles in DCEU movies. Therefore, a Cyborg cameo in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is highly unlikely.
Batman Was Set To Appear But Has Reportedly Been Cut
Ben Affleck’s Batman was always the most likely Justice League hero to appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. After all, Affleck returned for a major supporting role in The Flash and was enthusiastic about his last possible appearances in the DCEU. Jason Momoa allegedly shot some footage not only with Ben Affleck, but also with Michael Keaton for the Aquaman sequel. After the events of The Flash, a Batman farewell appearance in Aquaman 2 could have confirmed exactly what the DCEU’s main universe ended up looking like. But after a series of test screenings and reshoots, it seems like no version of Batman will appear in the Aquaman sequel at any point.
Batman’s absence in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may be due in part to the upcoming DCU reboot that will cut all direct ties to the DCEU, which makes any DCEU set-up and post-credits tease pointless right before Superman: Legacy‘s new starting point. With no space for future DCEU sequels or crossovers, it only makes sense for Aquaman to have a completely independent sequel that doesn’t depend on the wider franchise. Director James Wan wanted a self-contained Aquaman 2. Given the constant changes DC movies have been going through, focusing on Aquaman’s world was the best option, and dropping all Batman cameos likely was a necessary sacrifice.
Could Any Justice League Heroes Still Cameo In Aquaman 2
At this point in the DCEU’s timeline, most superhero crossovers would seem like natural occurrences, even more so when main Justice League heroes are concerned. However, adding any extra DCEU character to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would serve little purpose. First, the DCEU officially ends with the Aquaman sequel, and a surprise Justice League cameo would only raise hopes for nonexistent future DCEU installments. Second, any cameo could leave the guest character’s ending even more open than it already is. And third, a Justice League hero’s appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could create more confusion around the transition from DCEU to DCU.
After confirming that the Aquaman sequel is a standalone story, James Wan addressed Batman’s Aquaman 2 cameo rumors, advising fans to wait patiently until the movie comes out to confirm if any version of Batman makes an appearance. Just like The Flash shocked audiences with the presence of Nicolas Cage’s Superman and George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne, there’s a very small chance the DCEU could provide a final surprise and pay homage to its version of the Justice League with a last reunion at the end of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. But even if it doesn’t, the film doesn’t need any franchise connections to deliver a solid final chapter to the DCEU.
Key Release Dates
