DC fans are bracing themselves for Aquaman 2, and many are wondering what’s in store for the sequel. Director James Wan recently hinted in a fan convention that the follow-up movie will still have more of his “horror sensibilities.”
Wan made a name in Hollywood for his scary movies in the Saw franchise. During the DC FanDome online event, a fan asked if he’s going to add more of his forte to Aquaman 2.
“I would say yes. Just like the first movie had a touch of my horror sensibility in it, in regards to the Trench sequence, I would say there’ll be a little bit of that in this next one,” Wan said. The director was referring to the trench battle in the debut movie, which fans have commended as, unlike any comic book movie adaptation.
The director added that doing horror movies is part of who he is, and this “naturally comes out” in the films he’s working on. Wan also said that there are plenty of “very scary” elements in Aquaman since it takes place underwater, so it’s easy for him to “latch” to the scenes and add his special “scary sauce.”
Release date, filming schedule and casting
Warner Bros confirmed the development of Aquaman 2 in early 2019. The studio sets the sequel’s release date for December 2022, which gives the production plenty of time to prepare for work.
Like Wan, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick will also return to the project to write the sequel’s screenplay. The DC movie is set to start principal photography in the middle of 2021, barring any production delays like COVID-19 shutdowns.
Jason Momoa is reprising his role as Aquaman/Arthur Curry, and fans will likely see more of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta. Randall Park, as Dr. Stephen Shin, will also be back based on the film’s end sequence teaser. Meanwhile, there has been much buzz about Amber Heard’s return as Mera.
Emilia Clarke or Blake Lively as new Mera?
The internet is abuzz with rumors that either Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke or Hollywood bombshell Blake Lively will play Mera in Aquaman 2. Clarke’s casting, if true, should reunite her with Momoa, who played her TV husband in the popular HBO series.
The rumors come as Heard is in the middle of a messy legal battle with her ex-husband Johnny Depp. Fans side with the Pirates of the Caribbean star because of the abuse allegations against Heard while still married to Depp.
Fans have signed petitions calling for her replacement in the movie, but Warner Bros has no plans to fire the actress, according to reports.
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