Recent comments from an
Aquaman producer implied that a sequel would be a long ways off as WB and James Wan turned their attention a spinoff film focusing on the monstrous Trench. However, that hasn't stopped Patrick Wilson from sharing his strong belief that Orm will return in the sequel - albeit in a lesser capacity.
"
You can’t kill him. He’s too important to [Arthur’s] journey … he’s a foil to [Aquaman]. He’s not gonna be a main villain in another movie. I don’t think Orm ends up in Belle Reve like he does in the New 52. I assume they’re gonna keep him in some kind of jail below the surface. If [James] wants me back, I’m certainly happy to come back."
It seems Wilson is a big comic book fan as his mention of the New 52 indicates that he's aware of his character's recent tenure on the
Suicide Squad. However, based on the description of
James Gunn's take on the team, the use of lesser-known villains is quite intentional and all but omits a high profile character like Ocean Master.
Aquaman 2 currently has a December 16, 2022 release date, but seems
likely to be pushed back given producer Peter Safran's comments.