Is AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Destined To Be The Next - And Final - DCEU Failure?

With negativity continuing to surround Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is the sequel destined to be another DCEU disaster? We look at the evidence and what's led to the movie being in so much trouble...

By JoshWilding - Sep 12, 2023 01:09 PM EST

Filed Under: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

The last year has been a disaster for the DC Extended Universe. You might think it all started with Black Adam, but the irony is that the critically panned movie ended up being a bigger commercial hit than Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, and Blue Beetle.

While the latter received better reviews than the rest, 2023 has not been good for this franchise and all signs point to the year ending on a bum note thanks to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. A sequel to 2018's $1.1 billion Aquaman, it should be a hit, but we've been hearing nothing but bad things.

In this feature, we're delving into everything we know about the movie, taking a deep dive into what's gone wrong and why there's a strong chance it will be the next - and final - disaster for the DCEU. Oh, and why that might, to some extent, even be DC Studios' fault!

To read through our breakdown, all you need to do is click on the "Next" button below.

5. Disastrous Test Screenings

We've been hearing bad things about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's disastrous test screenings since the start of the year and the narrative on that front has never really changed. Even the trades have confirmed the results from those were "uninspired."

As recently as yesterday the sequel was described as "f***ing boring" even after a third round of reshoots were said to have taken place this past summer. Throw in claims it's now a largely standalone movie and the fact not even the action is any good, and it doesn't sound like the movie has any real redeeming qualities.

We'd always advise taking rumours like these with a pinch of salt, but based on past experience, whenever we hear negative reactions from test screenings, the movies in question are more often than not as awful as initially reported.

4. No More Batman

In an effort to counter those test screenings, multiple rounds of reshoots took place and, in something of an unprecedented move, Warner Bros. film bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy got hands-on. The latter - a studio executive, not a creative - later took charge of an edit which ultimately received even lower scores.

Due to constant release date changes, Michael Keaton's planned Batman cameo (supposedly setting up a major new threat) was cut and replaced with one featuring Ben Affleck...which has also been cut.

That's to avoid setting up stories and movies which won't become a reality under DC Studios' watch. While we're not suggesting a post-credits cameo would be a game-changer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, scrapping a sequence sure to be a huge talking point will do little to generate buzz.

3. DC Studios' Influence

On the one hand, you'd think DC Studios' influence on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would be a good thing. However, one look at The Flash has left us concerned that James Gunn and Peter Safran's creative input will have only made a bad movie even worse.

They weighed in and approved that latest 4-day shoot, and if George Clooney's pointless cameo and Barry Allen's missing tooth are any sort of indication about what to expect, we're not surprised to learn that the latest round of additional photography has failed to fix a clearly troubled movie.

Add DC Studios' repeated hints about Jason Momoa playing Lobo in the DCU, and we have zero idea why fans should care about this sequel. Then again, that was pretty much set in stone when 2023 kicked off with a slate reveal confirming this year's DCEU titles no longer mattered.

2. A Last-Minute Marketing Blitz

aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom-091123-4-f7c4bc646efd46e9a46aeb261f4053e2

Looking beyond the rumours and behind-the-scenes issues, the fact Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's marketing campaign has begun roughly 100 days before it arrives in theaters is problematic on a number of levels.

The only reason a trailer teaser was released on Saturday is because websites started sharing a rumour about Warner Bros. Discovery giving up on the sequel. The studio clearly doesn't want to spend money on a movie they're confident will be a flop and raising awareness this late...well, it will do little to generate excitement.

Regular moviegoers probably don't know the sequel exists at this stage and there are relatively few big releases for its trailer to be attached to in theaters. The strikes are also an issue as not even the A-List cast will be able to help spread the word this coming December!

1. A Damaged Brand

We're getting sick of making this point, but it's one that's extremely relevant to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. After a year of terrible movies, not even Jason Momoa starring in the sequel to a $1.1 billion hit will be enough to wipe away the bad taste left by the likes of Black Adam and The Flash.

The DC brand is damaged beyond repair. DC Studios inadvertently killed interest in 2023's DCEU movies when that "Gods and Monsters" slate was announced and even if there was no truth to the test screening and reshoot rumours, the way the sequel has been handled thus far makes it clear Warner Bros. doesn't care about it.

Is there a remote chance Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom exceeds expectations and ends this era of storytelling on a high? Sure, but it would be naive to think that based on what we know and, if anything, this could be an even bigger flop than The Flash.

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Is AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Destined To Be The Next - And Final - DCEU Failure?

With negativity continuing to surround Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is the sequel destined to be another DCEU disaster? We look at the evidence and what's led to the movie being in so much trouble...

5. Disastrous Test Screenings

4. No More Batman

3. DC Studios' Influence

2. A Last-Minute Marketing Blitz

1. A Damaged Brand

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