Aquaman, released in 2018, arrived to critical and financial success. Now, its sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to hit theaters in December. This film marks the end of the old DCEU, which has been dismantled by Warner Bros in the wake of James Gunn’s DCU reboot.
This year has not been great for the DCU; its major films have struggled at the box office. According to a Variety report, things don’t look promising for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom either. The film has received scores in the 60s in its latest screening test, thus sparking debates about whether it will be a critical success.
With James Gunn’s announcement of a new slate of DC films, it seems that audiences may view Aquaman as irrelevant in the new DCU, and the film may meet the same fate as previous DC films, such as Shazam, Flash, and Blue Beetles, which have performed poorly at the box office.
Although the latest cut of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has not been tested yet, it seems the studio isn’t very optimistic about the film, considering its connection to the old DCEU.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for the movie as major reshoots can potentially turn things around, similar to what happened with “Aquaman” in 2018, which also received a low score in early test screenings.
No Jason Momoa’s Aquaman in the New DCU
Zack Snyder’s DC Universe is effectively over, and now Variety has confirmed that no old DCEU actors will appear in the rebooted DCU. Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck had already bid farewell to the DCU.
The latest report states that the actors from the 2017 Justice League, including Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, and Jason Momoa, will not reprise their roles in the new DCU.
With no place for Jason Momoa’s Aquaman in James Gunn’s DCU, the outlook has become even more ominous for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It will be challenging for even the most dedicated DC fans to get excited about a film that has no relevance in the new DCU.
Check out this article to learn more details about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrives in theatres on 20 December 2023.