Warner Bros. hasn't forgotten that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is just over a month away, something that's evident from a new poster which declares, "The Tide Is Turning."
That's likely a reference to Arthur Curry's relationship with his half-brother, Orm. Aquaman defeated Ocean Master in the first movie and became the new King of Atlantis, sparing his ally-turned-enemy. He's remained imprisoned in Atlantis but will be freed when Arthur needs help putting an end to Black Manta's machinations.
Much has been said about the dynamic between these two being at the centre of the DC Comics sequel, with filmmaker James Wan claiming it was always the plan to sideline Mera to put the spotlight on Orm.
"It's fair that [Heard] said that [about the character being pared down], because she wasn’t in my head as I was working on this movie," the filmmaker recently said. "Actors don’t necessarily know what we [directors] behind the scenes are thinking about. But this was always my plan."
"From the start, I pitched that the first film would be a Romancing The Stone-type thing - an action-adventure romantic comedy - while the second would be an outright buddy comedy. I wanted to do Tango & Cash!"
We're hoping this new look at the Aquaman follow-up is going to lead to the marketing campaign kicking off in a big way; after all, if we're not getting a final trailer in the coming weeks, then TV spots and featurettes are a guarantee. The end of the SAG-AFTRA strike also means the movie's cast will be free to promote the movie (just don't bank on Amber Heard being among them).
Check out this new poster for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below.
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa - along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman - return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
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.
All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.
The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released on December 22.