Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the upcoming superhero blockbuster of 2023, has unveiled a striking new poster designed for international audiences. Featuring Jason Momoa reprising his role as Arthur Curry, the iconic Aquaman, the poster showcases him atop a colossal seahorse, leading an army of sharks. Following the universe-altering events in The Flash earlier this year, this film marks a significant chapter in the DC Extended Universe’s evolution, paving the way for the newly envisioned DC Universe under the guidance of co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. While this may mark Momoa’s final appearance as Aquaman, whispers suggest he might embrace a different role in the refreshed DC Universe.
Returning as the director for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, James Wan expressed that the film draws inspiration from the monster movies of the ’60s, particularly influenced by Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion artistry. Wan shared, “The Lost Kingdom has a very retro, ’60s horror look. We have this huge action set-piece where Arthur and Orm fight [Black Manta’s] henchmen, using the ‘Octobot’ – this mechanical squid thing. That was really fun to shoot.”
Wan has also hinted at the film’s “buddy comedy” tone, stating, “From the start, I pitched that the first film would be a Romancing The Stone-type thing – an action-adventure romantic comedy – while the second would be an outright buddy comedy.” Drawing parallels with iconic duos like Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men In Black, Wan explained, “Jason plays Arthur larger-than-life; Patrick plays the straight man. It’s not unlike what Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones did in Men In Black – like Tommy, Patrick plays it dry, but very funny.”
Scheduled for a December 25th theatrical release, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom promises an exhilarating narrative where Aquaman must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to safeguard Atlantis and the world from irreversible devastation. The film reunites familiar faces, including Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Randall Park, alongside new additions such as Jani Zhao, Indya Moore, and Vincent Regan. Pilou Asbaek has also joined the cast in a mysterious role.
Directed by James Wan and scripted by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the film is produced by Wan and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, making it a highly anticipated entry in the evolving DC cinematic landscape.
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