We first learned of Warner Bros.' plans for The Trench in February 2019. Touted as a horror movie of sorts, it was reported that the focus would be places on those monstrous creatures from Aquaman, with Jason Momoa and Amber Heard set to play supporting roles as Arthur Curry and Mera.
Eventually, the project - along with Ava DuVernay's The New Gods - was scrapped, but filmmaker James Wan just dropped quite the bombshell while replying to fans on Instagram. "I'll let you in on a little secret," he teased. "The canceled Trench spin-off movie was really going to be a secret Black Manta movie."
This is definitely a shocker, and Wan didn't elaborate on why the project - which would have presumably seen Yahya Abdul-Mateen II reprise the role - never came to fruition. Black Manta battling the Trench and becoming an anti-hero of sorts could have made for a badass movie, and we know there were also brief discussions of using him in The Suicide Squad as a member of Task Force X.
Now, Black Manta will take centre stage as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's lead villain. In Aquaman's post-credits scene, he was rescued by Dr. Stephen Shin and seemingly more determined than ever to end Arthur Curry's life. Whether a solo project ever happens remains to be seen, but this is yet another planned DC movie from Warner Bros. that's fallen by the wayside.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will splash into theaters on December 16, 2022.
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