Director James Wan is set to go back underwater, deep into the heart of the ocean, and have fun with his buddy Arthur Curry. The filmmaker took to his Instagram Thursday to reveal that the title of Aquaman 2 is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Warner Bros. then confirmed this on Twitter and to Gizmodo.
Wan has been working on the film for a while, and his post (which you can see below) makes it seem like production is getting closer and closer. Not much is known about the plot, beyond what we can glean from where the first film left off. Jason Momoa will return as Aquaman himself, Arthur Curry, who is now the rightful King of Atlantis after his defeat of his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) in the original movie. Of course, he’ll be joined by Mera (Amber Heard). The last film’s end credits scene also teased that Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) might return as well, though that hasn’t been confirmed. Dolph Lundgren, who plays King Nereus of the Xebellian people, also said he’s coming back. And oddly, it’s that last bit that’s key.
Breaking news from Director James Wan #Aquaman
Re-post: IG @/creepypuppet | The tide is rising. pic.twitter.com/yoDN7CFauz
— Warner Bros. Pictures (@wbpictures) June 10, 2021
What Is the Lost Kingdom?
Long ago, an Aquaman poster came out that said “Unite the Seven.” Fans took that to mean seven members of the Justice League — but really, it meant the seven kingdoms of Atlantis: Trench, Brine, Xebellian, the Fisherman kingdom, the Atlanteans, the Deserters, and a long-lost kingdom. Yes. That “Lost Kingdom.” It sure sounds like even more so than the first film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be about Arthur attempting to unite all the kingdoms of the ocean, and learning more about why this one kingdom was lost along the way.
You also have to assume there will be some mention of something else happening in the DC Universe. What that means post–Zack Snyder’s Justice League, we have no idea. But Shazam is out there. Black Adam, too, by the time this film is out. There’s also The Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman, so who knows?
James Wan knows. And he’s bringing Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to theatres December 16, 2022.