Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan insisted his upcoming DC sequel will swim rather than sink despite failing to make an early splash with viewers.
Speaking with ComicBook.com, Wan addressed The Lost Kingdom's place in the ever-changing DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran's leadership as co-CEOs of DC Studios, calling it a "standalone film" that "kind of lives in its own world." He also delved into what fans can expect from Jason Momoa's titular hero and The Lost Kingdom when it hits theaters. "You know, people love Jason Momoa; people love him playing this role; and people love the action visuals of this space and this world," he said. "And that's what we're doing: we're taking it to the next level and we are still expanding. This is the next level and I'm very excited to finally put out there to show them what we've been working on all these years."
Early reviews about The Lost Kingdom have been underwhelming, prompting further concern for DC after both Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash struggled at the box office. The awaited follow-up to 2018's Aquaman, The Lost Kingdom generated such negative feedback during test screenings that people walked out before its conclusion. Though Aquaman became a box-office smash, earning over $1.15 billion in worldwide ticket sales, the film was critically panned at the time, with Momoa later admitting he was surprised by how successful it was.
The Lost Kingdom Falls Victim to Poor Test Screenings
The poor test screenings, as well as frustrations over his character, have reportedly led Momoa to reconsider his future as the half-human, half-Atlantean king. Since November 2022, Momoa has been strongly linked to becoming Lobo, a DC character the acclaimed actor has long admired. Momoa stoked the rumors initially when he revealed his satisfaction following a meeting with Gunn and Safran about his DC future, teasing a dream DCU project without giving away any pertinent details.
There are a few uncertainties heading into the Aquaman sequel. For one, it hasn't been confirmed which Batman will appear in The Lost Kingdom, with Momoa saying he's unsure if Michael Keaton or Ben Affleck's version of The Dark Knight will be included. How much of a role Amber Heard's Mena will play in The Lost Kingdom also remains up in the air following her defamation case against ex-husband Johnny Depp. Heard previously claimed she fought to keep her part in The Lost Kingdom amid alleged discussions behind the scenes to cut her. When footage of The Lost Kingdom premiered at CinemaCon in April, Heard's character, who was a key figure in the original Aquaman, appeared, though she had no dialogue.
The Lost Kingdom sees Arthur Curry try to protect Atlantis from devastation after an ancient power rises to prominence, with Arthur forming an uneasy alliance with his half-brother and ex-prisoner Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson). Also starring Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, The Lost Kingdom was made on a $205 million budget and will lead into the first film of Gunn's fresh movie slate, 2025's Superman: Legacy.
The Lost Kingdom opens in theaters on Dec. 20.
Source: ComicBook.com