Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been hit with more release date delays than we can even remember at this stage, but come hell or high water, the sequel will be released in theaters a couple of months from now.
Can a movie which, based on countless reports, faced more than a few issues during shooting and post-production end the DCEU on a positive note? Warner Bros. Discovery will be hoping so, particularly after what's proven to be a disastrous year thanks to flops like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
Whether the Aquaman sequel will sink or swim remains to be seen, but Jason Momoa's time as the King of Atlantis is expected to end in time for him to take on the role of Lobo in DC Studios' DCU reboot.
As Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's release draws near, more information is becoming available about the movie, including its official rating from the MPA.
Unsurprisingly, it will be "rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some language." This was to be expected and is essentially the same as every other DCEU movie outside R-Rated efforts like Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad.
Aquaman made over $1 billion in 2018 and was also PG-13 so changing that wouldn't have made any sense. Unfortunately, with moviegoers suffering from DC fatigue, replicating that success looks set to be an uphill battle.
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa - along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman - return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
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.
All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.
The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released on December 20.