Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a highly anticipated upcoming superhero film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. It is the sequel to the 2018 film Aquaman and the sixth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film is directed by James Wan, who also directed the first film, and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, with a story by Wan, Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. The film is being produced by Peter Safran, Wan, and Rob Cowan.
The film stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius / Ocean Master, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane / Black Manta, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Vincent Regan as Atlan, Jani Zhao as Stingray, Indya Moore as Karshon, Pilou Asbæk as King Karathen, Ben Affleck as Batman (rumored cameo), and Michael Keaton as Batman (rumored cameo).
Fans have been marking their calendars, and the good news is that they won’t have to wait much longer. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 20, 2023.
Plot
The plot of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is still under wraps, but the trailer gives us some clues. It seems that Arthur Curry will be searching for a lost kingdom, which may be the key to defeating Black Manta. He will also be working with his half-brother, Orm Marius, to protect Atlantis from a new threat.
Trailer
The first trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was released on September 14, 2023. It shows Arthur Curry struggling to balance his duties as King of Atlantis with his life as a father. He is also facing a new threat from Black Manta, who is now more powerful than ever before.
Characters
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom features a cast of returning and new characters, each with their own unique abilities and motivations. Here is a brief overview of some of the most important characters.
| Character | Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Curry / Aquaman | Jason Momoa | The half-Atlantean, half-human son of Atlanna and Thomas Curry. He is the king of Atlantis and the protector of the seven seas. |
| Mera | Amber Heard | The princess of Xebel and Aquaman’s wife. She is a powerful warrior and a skilled swimmer. |
| Orm Marius / Ocean Master | Patrick Wilson | Arthur Curry’s half-brother and the former king of Atlantis. He is a ruthless and ambitious leader who believes that Atlantis should rule the surface world. |
| David Kane / Black Manta | Yahya Abdul-Mateen II | A pirate and a mercenary who is obsessed with revenge against Aquaman. |
| Nereus | Dolph Lundgren | The king of the Brine and a powerful Atlantean warrior. |
| Dr. Stephen Shin | Randall Park | A marine biologist who is working with the Atlanteans. |
| Atlanna | Nicole Kidman | Arthur Curry’s mother and the former queen of Atlantis. |
| Thomas Curry | Temuera Morrison | Arthur Curry’s father and a lighthouse keeper. |
| Atlan | Vincent Regan | The first king of Atlantis and Arthur Curry’s ancestor. |
| Stingray | Jani Zhao | An Atlantean warrior and Aquaman’s ally. |
| Karshon | Indya Moore | A half-human, half-shark Atlantean warrior and Aquaman’s ally. |
| King Karathen | Pilou Asbæk | The ruler of the Black Manta Kingdom and Black Manta’s father. |
| Batman | Ben Affleck | A crime-fighting vigilante who is based in Gotham City and a member of the Justice League. |
| Batman | Michael Keaton | A crime-fighting vigilante who is based in Gotham City and a member of the Justice League. |
Arthur Curry / Aquaman
Jason Momoa returns as the titular hero, Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman. His charismatic and rugged portrayal of the character won over audiences in the first film, and fans are excited to see him don the iconic trident once again.
Mera
Mera is the princess of Xebel and Aquaman’s wife. She is a powerful warrior and a skilled swimmer, the powerful Atlantean warrior and Aquaman’s love interest. Her character’s chemistry with Arthur Curry played a significant role in the first film, and fans are curious to see how their relationship develops in the sequel. She is played by Amber Heard.
Orm Marius / Ocean Master
Orm Marius is Arthur Curry’s half-brother and the former king of Atlantis. He is a ruthless and ambitious leader who believes that Atlantis should rule the surface world. He is played by Patrick Wilson.
David Kane / Black Manta
Black Manta is a pirate and a mercenary who is obsessed with revenge against Aquaman. He is equipped with a powerful high-tech suit that gives him superhuman strength and abilities. He is played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Nereus
Nereus is the king of the Brine and a powerful Atlantean warrior and aslo he is Mera’s father. Nereus’s political involvement in Atlantean affairs could add intrigue to the story. He is played by Dolph Lundgren.
Dr. Stephen Shin
Dr. Stephen Shin is a marine biologist who is working with the Atlanteans. He is played by Randall Park.
Atlanna
Atlanna is Arthur Curry’s mother and the former queen of Atlantis. She is played by Nicole Kidman.
Thomas Curry
Thomas Curry is Arthur Curry’s father and a lighthouse keeper. He is played by Temuera Morrison.
Atlan
Atlan is the first king of Atlantis and Arthur Curry’s ancestor. He is played by Vincent Regan.
Stingray
Stingray is an Atlantean warrior and Aquaman’s ally. She is played by Jani Zhao.
Karshon
Karshon is a half-human, half-shark Atlantean warrior and Aquaman’s ally. He is played by Indya Moore.
King Karathen
King Karathen is the ruler of the Black Manta Kingdom and Black Manta’s father. He is played by Pilou Asbæk.
Batman
Batman is a crime-fighting vigilante who is based in Gotham City. He is a member of the Justice League and Aquaman’s ally. He is played by Ben Affleck (rumored cameo) and Michael Keaton (rumored cameo).
Themes
One of the central themes of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is the exploration of environmental issues affecting the ocean, which is a timely and relevant topic. The film is expected to address the consequences of pollution, overfishing, and climate change on the underwater world of Atlantis.
Director James Wan has also teased that the sequel will take a more serious and darker tone compared to the first film. This suggests that “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” may delve deeper into the complexities of its characters and the challenges they face, both in Atlantis and on the surface.
Additionally, the film is rumored to explore Arthur Curry’s journey to fully embrace his role as the King of Atlantis, a storyline that has been hinted at in previous DCEU films. This character development could add depth and nuance to the story.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is expected to explore a number of themes, including:
- Family and loyalty
- The importance of protecting the environment
- The dangers of unchecked ambition
- The power of redemption
Production
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom began filming in July 2021 and wrapped in December 2021. The film was shot in the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, and Hawaii.
Conclusion
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is one of the most anticipated superhero films of 2023. With its talented cast and crew, and a director with a proven track record, the film has the potential to be even better than the first film.
The film is expected to explore more of the Aquaman mythos, including new locations and characters. It is also expected to have a more mature tone and be a major visual spectacle.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is also expected to be a major box office success, and could help to revitalize the DC Extended Universe.
Overall, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is shaping up to be one of the most exciting upcoming films. With its talented cast and crew, and a director with a proven track record, the film has the potential to be a major hit.
