Coming off of Man of Steel, most fans have been crying out for a Wonder Woman movie to be made. While I would like to see it get made, I personally prefer to see Aquaman get the blockbuster movie treatment. Aquaman has been rebooted for modern audiences by Geoff Jahns in the New 52 but for casual movie going audiences, it seems to me he has the most to prove, and therefore the most dramatic potential. This and Wonder Woman, while more popular, does have far more potential to screw things up do to her tricky subject material; much like Thor from the MCU who in the end only got a mediocre film debut. Even from a marketing point of view, I don't see Wonder Woman being made. A simple thing called demographics, will show you that audiences prefer male leads (even if this is because we don't get too many movies with female leads [Hunger Games, Terminator and Resident Evil]). I don't personally believe this, but studios don't like to take risks, and they may very well see WW as a HUGE risk. This being said, if he does get his own film what will we see?
Man of Steel took cues from The Dark Knight Saga, and set itself on the premise of the real world. The MCU did the exact opposite and made there universe very fantastical in order to accomodate potentially anyone. This will serve perfectly for moviegoing audiences, because it will create a necessary contrast to differentiate itself. Man of Steel also took the flashback style from The Dark Knight. The story of Arthur Curry is not as complex, in his origin as say The Dark Knight or Superman and so I don't think this will be necessary for Aquaman but I wouldn't count it out for future DC films. Man of Steel also took cues from the new 52. This means that for the future of Aquaman at least, we should probably expect a substantial amount of material, if for no other reason, because it was the New 52 that reinvigorated the character.
I do realize I said that Arthur Curry's origin is not as complex as batman and superman, but this isn't to say it isn't complex or interesting. Aquaman is very interesting. He comes off in the New 52 as a very Aragorn like figure. He is the king of Atlantis, yet he lives on the land. For an Aquaman story, I can very much see the potential in this. (Insert villain here) is the ruling King of Atlantis, Arthur Curry is relaxing on the land with his wife, a threat emerges from the ocean, forcing Aquaman to reclaim the throne of Atlantis. Not that this is what I'm looking to see, but this kind of simple story can be used effectively to explain Aquaman's origins without the need for flashbacks, all while cementing him as a badass for modern audiences.
This is all I really have to say. This is what I am looking forward with the DCU. Maybe not the story, but all the opportunities. What do you, the community think? What do you want for an Aquaman movie? Who do you think will receive the movie treatment next?