DCEU Ends With A Whimper As AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Gets A Low-Key Fan Screening But No Premiere

DCEU Ends With A Whimper As AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Gets A Low-Key Fan Screening But No Premiere

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom wasn't given a splashy premiere in Hollywood yesterday evening; instead, the sequel got a low-key fan event which suggests Warner Bros. has given up on the final DCEU movie.

By JoshWilding - Dec 19, 2023 05:12 AM EST

Did you know that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom arrives in theaters a couple of days from now? If you'd forgotten, there's a good chance you're not alone because Warner Bros. Discovery hasn't put a great deal of effort into building excitement for the final DC Extended Universe movie. 

The review embargo won't lift until December 21, the same day this Aquaman sequel arrives in many countries (and mere hours before Thursday preview screenings begin in North America). That suggests the studio is bracing itself for bad reviews. 

Regardless, with DC Studios' DCU reboot now looming, it seems WBD CEO David Zaslav didn't even want to spend money on a splashy premiere for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Yesterday evening, a "fan screening" took place which featured only appearances from lead star Jason Momoa and director James Wan. There was no premiere, no afterparty, and nothing that will help build hype for a movie that's likely to have a lower opening than this past August's Blue Beetle

The DCEU is ending on a whimper rather than a bang but will a year off in 2024 be enough to renew interest in this franchise when Superman: Legacy arrives in 2025? We'll have to wait and see. 

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.

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FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 5:43 AM
Imagine this is a sequel to a billion dollar movie 👀
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/19/2023, 5:57 AM
@FireandBlood - so was The Marvels which this will outgross
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 7:46 AM
@vectorsigma - Marvels didn’t get a premier due to the strike, not because Disney didn’t want to promote the movie.

Think before you type next time
Batmangina
Batmangina - 12/19/2023, 8:15 AM
@FireandBlood - The fact that nobody gave a [frick] about The Marvels might factor in - that and all the misogynist racists saving their money up for Godzilla, maybe?
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 8:20 AM
@Batmangina - What are we talking about here? Because this article is about red carpet events.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 12/19/2023, 8:33 AM
@FireandBlood - This: Imagine this is a sequel to a billion dollar movie 👀

The Marvels: Originally scheduled for July 8 then November 11, 2022, then February 17, 2023, then July 28, 2023, and then finally November 10, 2023

Imagine that was a sequel to a billion dollar movie. Oh, it was.

It could have had three different red carpet events but it was a steaming pile of shit and Disney obviously knew it.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 8:43 AM
@Batmangina - “Imagine this is a sequel to a billion dollar movie… and they’re not even giving it a premier”

This article is about a red carpet even, or lack thereof. The only reason The Marvels never got a premier was because of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, so what point are you failing to make here?
Batmangina
Batmangina - 12/19/2023, 8:46 AM
@FireandBlood - Fair enough. My point was Marvel knew it and they kept kicking the can down the road until the optics were good and they could spin the failure until they couldn't - WB knows it and is just taking the L

I was a bit interested in Aquaman and I powered through 30 minutes of the Marvels - DisMarv [frick]ed up - shoulda been a team up series with Ms. Marvel in the style of her intro in the movie - she's really likable and good. She got the shit end of the stick.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/19/2023, 8:46 AM
@FireandBlood - oh, so it flopped because of the strikes. OK. Lol
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 8:48 AM
@vectorsigma - No, it never got a premier because of the strikes. Why are you being this wilfully obtuse? 😂
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/19/2023, 8:53 AM
@FireandBlood - reading Josh articles will make you like that. Like how obtuse this article is right?
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/19/2023, 8:54 AM
@vectorsigma - Josh didn’t make you like this
RitoRevolto
RitoRevolto - 12/19/2023, 10:12 AM
@vectorsigma - you've been weirdly and pathetically obsessed with The Marvels lol.
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 12/19/2023, 11:13 AM
@FireandBlood - Imagine this is a sequel to a billion dollar movie

YOU DO IT!!!
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 12/19/2023, 11:14 AM
@FireandBlood - also. I completely agree
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/19/2023, 7:13 PM
@RitoRevolto - im not obsessed with it. It's the flopping that im happy with
RitoRevolto
RitoRevolto - 12/19/2023, 8:18 PM
@vectorsigma - You've been commenting on every article you can about it since the movie's release. At least Josh gets clicks, you're just... obsessed. 😐
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 12/19/2023, 5:43 AM
Sad. Just sad. Goodbye 2023.
BraveNewClunge
BraveNewClunge - 12/19/2023, 5:44 AM
Not the infamous DC fan screenings before a premiere 😭😭

It's almost guaranteed to be trash then
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