With James Gunn’s new DC Universe on the horizon, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan is opening up about the upcoming DC reboot.
SUMMARY
- Aquaman director James Wan is not too concerned about James Gunn’s DC Universe reboot, as he designed his movies to be standalone.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom exists in its own narrative world and is not connected to the bigger DC Universe, so whatever happens there doesn’t affect the film.
- Jason Momoa’s future as Aquaman is uncertain, as it’s unclear if his involvement with Gunn’s DC Universe is related to the character or a new role. The success of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may influence DC Studios’ decision.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan is getting honest about how he feels in regards to James Gunn’s DC Universe reboot. The DCEU has one final movie to release as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will conclude the continuity’s ten-year-run, with Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe set to replace it. After numerous delays, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is only a few months away from its theatrical release.
Screen Rant recently took part in a trailer event for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom where Wan was present to answer questions by members of the press. During the Q&A portion, the filmmaker was asked about his feelings on Gunn’s DC Universe as the DCEU gets closer to its end. Wan got candid that while he’s “aware of everything that’s happening around me,” he has tried not to think too much about it, stating that he always designed his Aquaman movies to be as standalone as possible.
I’m aware of everything that’s happening around me. I mean, I use the analogy that I’m living in a house that’s getting renovated. It’s hard to not be aware of the renovation that’s happening around me. But the beauty about Aquaman is that we’ve always designed these two films to be within their own world. The advantage of not being hooked into this bigger universe is whatever happens over there doesn’t really affect my movie. This film doesn’t hook into anything. It lives in its own world. That’s what we found worked really well for us on the first film, and we’re doing exactly the same. There’s noise going around, but I’m just in my cocoon, in my underwater kingdom.
Will Aquaman Continue On In James Gunn’s DC Universe?
Ever since Gunn’s DC Universe was announced in January, one of the bigger mysteries that has gone unanswered is what is going on with Momoa’s Aquaman. Momoa has indicated that he is the only Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom cast member with something DC-related in the works with Gunn and Safran, with numerous social media posts where he has literally cheered in excitement. But what is unclear is if it actually has something to do with Aquaman or if he is potentially playing a new character in the DC Universe.
If Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a commercial success, it wouldn’t be shocking if DC Studios finds a way to have Momoa continue playing the Justice League hero. Looking at the recent DC movies’ financial performances, if Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom bombs at the box office, Gunn’s DC Universe will likely make Aquaman another character he reboots for the upcoming continuity. At the same time, it may not matter how Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is received, as DC Studios may want to reboot Aquaman alongside the rest of the Justice League, which already has its new Superman with David Corenswet.
Time will tell what is actually going on with Momoa in terms of his involvement with DC Studios, as things may get clearer after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom have been released. Given the mixed reception of the DCEU in recent years, it may be easier for the DC Universe to have Momoa play someone else, whether it be the highly speculated role of Lobo or a different DC character. For now, the world will able to catch Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in theaters this December as it wraps up the DCEU once and for all.
