Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is yet to hit theatres and there’s already a buzz about Aquaman 3. However, unlike most rumors, this buzz comes from none other than the director himself. That’s right! Director James Wan has hinted at the possibility of taking the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman franchise ahead with Aquaman 3 post its sequel release.
Despite the success of the first Aquaman film, Jason Momoa‘s character was left in limbo following the DC Universe’s restructuring. There were long delays to the announcement and filming of the second film, and there is still no certainty as to whether Aquaman will be a part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCEU.
Will there be an Aquaman 3?
The much-anticipated sequel to the original Arthur Curry movie certainly had a rocky road ahead, with much controversy, drama on set, and negative feedback. This caused many to believe that the Jason Momoa and Amber Heard-led film had come to an end. Especially with the introduction of the new DCU, making the chances even slimmer.
The first installment of the franchise produced a $1.1 billion gross, the most successful for any DC Extended Universe standalone film. Aquaman 2, helmed by James Wan, is anticipated to explore the depths of Atlantis and has been a hot topic for quite some time.
Director James Wan Dishes About Aquaman 3
In a discussion with reporters on March 2023, James Wan addressed the idea of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and the potential for Aquaman 3. He made sure to emphasize that the movie is unrelated to the DCU timeline, which gives him more room to work with.
He said,
“I’ve had to make adjustments all along the way. The DCU has been through lots of different versions, and one of the things that was challenging about this film was keeping track of what’s going on. Fortunately, the Aquaman universe is pretty far removed from the rest of the world.”
Adding further he continued,
“We’re going to many different underwater kingdoms that are not necessarily related to what’s happening with the other movies and characters, so we’re stand-alone in that respect. So I can just tell my story on its own without being affected too much, but at the same time, I have to be mindful of what’s been happening.”
This possibly means that even if James Gunn and Peter Safran decide to axe the Aquaman series from the DCU, Wan can continue working on the movie’s further installments as a stand-alone movie. It solidifies the idea of Aquaman 3 and its future as a DC movie.
Jason Momoa Talks About the Future of Aquaman
While speaking in an interview earlier this year, Jason Momoa talked about the future of Aquaman in the DCU. He discussed how he and Peter Safran are close friends and he believes that his movie is certainly here to stay in the DCU. This further cements the potential of Aquaman 3.
“Peter [Safran]’s my producer [on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom], and is a dear friend. I absolutely think Aquaman will be involved in the DCU. It’s on, bro – there’s no one bigger than Aquaman! But, also, I hope people are excited to see the new one.”
He mentioned his co-star Patrick Wilson, who is known for Insidious, and how fun it is to work with him in the movie.
“It’s fun. I really enjoy doing comedy. There’s some really funny stuff with Patrick Wilson. I really adore him. We had a great time working together. It’s like we’re brothers. There’s a lot of cool stuff happening in this one.”
Currently, Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2023. It stars Jason Momoa in the lead and Amber Heard also reprises her role as Mera.
