Warner Bros. has made a splash with the long-awaited release of the first trailer for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” marking the return of Jason Momoa as the aquatic DC hero.
The Plot Unveiled
In “Lost Kingdom,” we rejoin Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry, the enigmatic hero known as Aquaman, who now reigns as the leader of Atlantis. This sequel sees Aquaman teaming up with his half-brother Orm, portrayed by Patrick Wilson, to combat the ruthless pirate Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
The movie’s logline sets the stage: “Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.”
Returning Faces and New Additions
In addition to Momoa, Wilson, and Abdul-Mateen, the film features the return of Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Temuera Morrison, Willem Dafoe, and Dolph Lundgren reprising their roles from the original “Aquaman” film. Randall Park also makes a return appearance as Dr. Stephen Shin, having made a cameo in the first movie. New cast members include Vincent Regan, Indya Moore, and Pilou Asbæk.
James Wan at the Helm
Director James Wan returns to lead the sequel, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick penning the script. Wan’s return to the franchise brings excitement, as he was a driving force behind the success of the first “Aquaman” film.
Heard’s Return Amid Controversy
The film has garnered attention due to its significance as Amber Heard’s first major project following a high-profile defamation trial with her ex-husband Johnny Depp. During the trial, Heard claimed her role was reduced by the studio in the aftermath of her divorce, which led to significant online harassment. She disclosed earning $1 million for the first “Aquaman” and $2 million for the sequel, despite her role being “a very pared-down version.”
However, James Wan clarified in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the focus of the “Aquaman” sequel was always intended to be the relationship between Arthur and Orm: “I always pitched this to everyone from the get-go. The first ‘Aquaman’ was Arthur and Mera’s journey. The second movie was always going to be Arthur and Orm. So, the first was a romance action-adventure movie, the second one is a bromance action-adventure movie.”
DC Universe Evolution
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” marks the fourth DC movie release this year, following “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” and “Blue Beetle.” With the evolving landscape of the DC Universe, led by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, the fate of Aquaman and Momoa’s involvement in future projects remains uncertain.
The release of the “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” trailer has ignited excitement among fans, promising another epic underwater adventure and reaffirming Jason Momoa’s place as the iconic Aquaman.
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