We managed to make it through the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut and #ReleaseTheAyerCut movements (only the former actually led anywhere). However, is it now time to start campaigning for Warner Bros. Discovery to #ReleaseTheWanCut of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?
It's no secret that the DCEU sequel went through a lot of changes courtesy of multiple rounds of reshoots, several edits, and real-life controversy which led to a reduced role for Amber Heard's Mera.
Now, Dolph Lundgren, who played King Nereus and Mera's father, has talked more about his scenes being cut and shared his disappointment with fans not getting to see the version of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that filmmaker James Wan wanted to make.
"I just realized that it was some kind of corporate decision that they try to limit Amber Heard and then I'm playing with her dad and went along with it," the actor tells ComicBook.com. "I was just disappointed for the moviegoers, because I thought the original script was great and the original cut, I saw a little bit of it, it was really good."
"I didn't see any reason to start reshooting and reshaping the story," Lundgren continued, "which obviously led to disappointment in the moviegoers and not just me."
Heard aside, it's thought the Aquaman sequel performed poorly during test screenings, prompting Warner Bros. to make repeated attempts to fix the movie. Unfortunately, the end result was a bit of a mess which netted a lowly 35% Rotten Tomatoes score but has still managed to near $400 million at the worldwide box office.
Earlier this month, Lundgren talked more about seeing Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom undergo significant changes in post-production. "My opinion is that I thought the original script was great. I was a bigger part of it and Amber Heard was a bigger part of it."
He'd later add, "The studio decided, I guess, to just reshoot a bunch of footage to try to rebuild a slightly different storyline. That's tricky because you can't reshoot the whole movie."
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.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is now playing in theaters.