Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster Aquaman, is one of the most anticipated DC movies of 2023. The film will see Jason Momoa return as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, who must face a new threat that could endanger his underwater kingdom and the surface world. However, the film has also faced several challenges and delays during its production, including three rounds of reshoots and constant test screenings. But this may not be a bad thing, as director James Wan has proven before that he can use reshoots to improve his movies and surprise his audiences.
Wan is no stranger to reshoots, as he did the same thing with his 2016 horror hit, The Conjuring 2. In that film, he added the character of the nun, who was the main villain of the movie, in reshoots. He said he was still discovering the design of the demon character while editing the movie and he got inspired by a conversation with the real Lorraine Warren. The nun became one of the most iconic and terrifying characters in the Conjuring universe, and even got her own spin-off movie in 2018.
Similarly, Wan may have used the reshoots for Aquaman 2 to add something new or unexpected to the film, or to refine his vision for the story and the characters. The reshoots may also have been influenced by the changing leadership at Warner Bros. and DC, as well as the shifting release dates and the DC timeline. One of the major changes was to remove Batman from the film, as both Michael Keaton’s and Ben Affleck’s versions of the character were considered at some point, but ultimately scrapped by the new DC heads, James Gunn and Peter Safran.
The film has also held several test screenings throughout its post-production process, which have been uninspiring and inconsistent. However, this may also be part of Wan’s strategy to keep his audience guessing and avoid spoilers. The film has been tested with different cuts and different titles, such as Aquaman: King of Atlantis and Aquaman: Rise of Atlan. The final title, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, was announced by Wan in June 2023.
Despite the troubled production, Aquaman 2 is still on track to hit theaters on December 25, 2023, four days after Avatar 2 and a week before Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. The film will feature a stellar cast, including Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Orm/Ocean Master, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane/Black Manta, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin, Pilou Asbæk as an unknown villain, Indya Moore as Karshon, Jani Zhao as Stingray, and Vincent Regan as Atlan.
Aquaman 2 may have gone through a lot of changes and challenges during its production, but that may not be a cause for concern. James Wan has shown before that he can use reshoots to his advantage and deliver a thrilling and satisfying movie. Aquaman 2 may just be another example of his creative genius.