Aquaman and the Lost Kingdomwill be the fifteenth and final film in the DC Extended Universe fromSawandThe Conjuringdirector James Wan. Jason Momoa makes his return as the title character, along with familiar faces from the firstAquamanfeature including Amber Heard as Mera, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta.
While there are major expectations for theAquamansequel, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding failed test screenings and bringing Heard back amidst her court battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp. There’s also curiosity as to what the plot of the film will entail and whether the sequel can succeed on its own terms and as a concluding chapter to the DCEU.
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Aquaman 2 features the same villains
The secondAquamanfilm, according to Wan, is intended to be more massive in scope compared to the first feature, expanding on the sea world of Atlantis and its inhabitants. After Arthur Curry/Aquaman was able to claim his rightful place as king of Atlantis at the conclusion of the previous movie, the sequel will focus on how he intends to protect his aquatic civilization from evil threats. They may include an original character named Stingray and a shark named Karshon (who’s reminiscent of King Shark from James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad).
Aside from some new potential baddies, the sequel will include some of the same villains from the original, notably David Kane akaBlack Manta(the highly trained pirate and mercenary who intends to avenge his father’s death by killing Aquaman). Black Manta is similar to the villainous Agent Smith and his constant battles with Neo inThe Matrixfranchise, but a major question will be how Kane can upgrade his Black Trident suit to take on the buffed-up king of Atlantis. Black Manta put up a decent fight using a bug-like suit during his second fight with Aquaman, with the heroic protagonist still getting the best of Kane. Perhaps with the assistance of marine biologist Dr. Stephen Shin (who’s interested in learning more about Atlantis), Black Manta will gain more weapons and tech to get the upper hand on the Atlantean/human hybrid.
Aquaman’s half-brother, Orm Marius, also appears in the sequel, this time as a prisoner of Atlantis (his punishment for misleading Atlantis to the brink of war with the surface world). While he may still be considered a villain who lost to Aquaman at the end of the first movie, Orm may become similar toLoki from theThorfilmsin terms of the sibling who could transition towards good and assist Arthur in his next battle. Wan mentioned that there’s a comedic bromance between Arthur and Orm when presenting the first trailer for the sequel at the CinemaCon for Warner Bros. on April 2023. The film can further expand on Arthur and Orm’s conflicting relationship and whether they can work out their differences when it comes to determining what’s best for Atlantis.
Atlan, the first and arguably the greatest king of Atlantis, has appeared in the originalAquamanfeature and both versions ofJustice League. Based on a recent poster forAquaman 2, many are speculating that Atlan (also known as the Dead King) may be the biggest villain in the sequel. Similar to Stingray and Karshon, Atlan’s intentions in this film are unknown since the plot is being kept under wraps, but considering his powerful reign as king, he (and likely Orm) may want to challenge Arthur for the throne of Atlantis.
War between surface world and Atlantis continues?
Orm may have been a cruel leader on a quest for power over the seven seas who intended to defeat the surface world for polluting the oceans. However, Arthur can be a better leader by eliminating Orm’s ruthless methods for mistreating others and finding more diplomatic resolutions to restore order in Atlantis. War will surely continue between the surface world and Atlantis, but with Arthur being an Atlantean/human hybrid, he can be the central figure in uniting both sides.
Orm can still be a deceiving character by attempting to ignite a war, leading to massively catastrophic battles on land and sea.Ben Affleck’s Batmanis expected to make an appearance in the film, and will inevitably be a strong ally for Aquaman on the surface world considering their successful takedown of Steppenwolf inJustice League. Based on recent photographs, the United Nations is also involved in the conflict regarding Atlantis (reminiscent ofBlack Pantherand how Wakanda questioned whether to share its resources and technology with the world). Arthur can show the surface world how Atlantis operates and intends to solve the pollution crisis without the intention of waging war (but will be prepared with well-defended armies in the seas).
Will Aquaman 2 wrap things up for the DCEU?
After the critical and box office disappointments of recent DCEU features includingBlack AdamandShazam! Fury of the Gods, many expectAquaman and the Lost Kingdomto fail as well. However, just like the upcomingFlashmovie, this sequel has the opportunity to end the DCEU on a high note so the transition to James Gunn’s DC Universe can be smooth and impactful.
The likability of star Jason Momoa andfilmmaker James Wan, along with the massive success of the firstAquamanfilm, can also be good signs that the sequel could meet expectations in terms of building upon the world of Atlantis. Momoa’s future as Aquaman or potentially portraying another DC character is uncertain, but he is still one of the best reasons for watching any film in the DC Universe. Wan can also remain with DC to make more superhero films, especially features that can include his own unique style of horror.
