Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has undergone multiple rounds of reshoots and even studio executives are thought to have got involved in the editing room. It's no wonder then that most fans don't have particularly high hopes for the final DC Extended Universe movie.
Once upon a time, The Flash ended with Michael Keaton's Batman a permanent part of the DCEU. The actor later shot a cameo in the Aquaman sequel which, as far as we're aware, was going to see the Caped Crusader recruit the King of Atlantis as part of the build to a Crisis on Infinite Earths movie.
When release dates shifted and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was briefly set to arrive before the Scarlet Speedster's first solo outing, the scene was reshot with Ben Affleck to avoid confusing fans. Has either version survived? Apparently not.
Following fan screenings earlier this week, we're hearing that the movie's sole post-credits scene features Orm (Patrick Wilson) eating a burger. He sees a cockroach nearby, picks it up and places it in his burger. He then eats it and smiles, a payoff to a gag from earlier in the story (a glimpse of that scene can be seen below).
None of this is overly surprising as Affleck was also cut from The Flash's post-credits scene because DC Studios doesn't want to tease stories which won't be picked up on in the new DCU. Still, we know many of you will be disappointed.
We can't 100% confirm this is the stinger quite yet - we'll have full spoiler breakdowns for you soon - but have received the same description from at least a couple of different sources.
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; and ; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis. 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 splashes down into theaters on December 22.