While a recent Entertainment Weekly article about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has attempted to portray the troubled sequel in a better light, news of poor test screenings, extensive reshoots, and Mera's trimmed-down role remain fresh in the minds of fans.
Now, ahead of today's trailer release, we have details on the sequel's current runtime: 1 hour and 55 minutes.
While not final, this comes from a reliable source and, if correct, makes Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom one of the shortest DCEU movies to date. 2018's Aquaman was 2 hours, 23 minutes, but 1 hour and 55 minutes would place the sequel between Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey (1 hour, 49 minutes) and Justice League (2 hours).
After all those reshoots, you'd be forgiven Warner Bros. probably have 6 hours of footage. Unfortunately, most of it probably isn't usable. That's one explanation for this surprisingly short runtime with the other being that trimming off 20 or 30 minutes means it can play in a larger number of screens and make more money.
If claims Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a disaster are correct, then every penny will count. With any luck, the movie will exceed expectations and end the DCEU on a positive note, something that would come as a much-needed win for the franchise after the past year.
Be sure to check back here later for that trailer.
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 20.