The Vision Behind the Sequel
Director James Wan, the creative genius behind “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” has finally opened up about the brewing controversy regarding Amber Heard‘s reduced role in the upcoming sequel. In a sit-down with Empire Magazine, Wan vehemently clarified that scaling back Heard’s involvement had nothing to do with her legal tussles with Johnny Depp, or a reactionary step due to fan outcry. Rather, it was all part of his master plan for the film’s storyline.
“It’s fair that [Heard] said that [about the character being pared down], because she wasn’t in my head as I was working on this movie. Actors don’t necessarily know what we [directors] behind the scenes are thinking about. But this was always my plan. From the start, I pitched that the first film would be a ‘Romancing The Stone’-type thing — an action-adventure romantic comedy — while the second would be an outright buddy comedy. I wanted to do ‘Tango & Cash!'” Wan told Empire Magazine.
From Romance to Buddy Comedy: A New Direction for Aquaman
For those who don’t remember, the first “Aquaman” film was a massive hit, bringing in more than a billion dollars worldwide and positioning Jason Momoa as a bonafide Hollywood superstar. With such impressive numbers, it’s no surprise that a sequel was greenlit. But this time, Wan had something else in mind for the second installment. He wanted to shift the genre from an action-adventure romantic comedy to a buddy comedy featuring Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry and Patrick Wilson’s Orm.
“I’ve had to learn to be more Zen in dealing with all the noise around me, for sure. I’m a pretty private person. I don’t get on social media and have fights, but it’s difficult because this narrative has emerged that is not the reality. The noise is fun to write about, and it gets clicks, but people don’t know the truth,” James Wan emphasized.
The Pressure is On: Why ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Needs to Swim, Not Sink
As part of the larger DCEU, which has seen its fair share of hits and misses, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is under immense pressure to deliver, especially considering how other DCEU titles have fared. And that’s before even diving into the media scrutiny around production difficulties and casting controversies. However, James Wan appears unbothered and entirely focused on his creative vision.
“There was an element of horror in the first film. But this second movie definitely has more of that. That became the design foundation. The Lost Kingdom has a very retro, ‘60s horror look. We have this huge action set-piece where Arthur and Orm fight [Black Manta’s] henchmen, using the ‘Octobot’ – this mechanical squid thing. That was really fun to shoot,” Wan revealed.
What to Expect from the Upcoming Release
Mark your calendars because “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is set to make waves at the box office come December 20, 2023. The film promises a new and exciting adventure for Arthur Curry as he faces new threats and forms an alliance with a former foe. Given James Wan’s expertise in crafting visually stunning and emotionally compelling stories, this sequel aims to stand on its own merit, separate from the broader DCEU.
Wan even teased a unique “old-school sci-fi and horror” experience for the film, ensuring that it will be anything but a typical superhero flick. Given all these tidbits, it seems like Wan has once again masterfully navigated the choppy waters of blockbuster filmmaking.
So, is the film destined to be another billion-dollar baby or will it struggle in the treacherous ocean of high expectations and internet controversy? One thing’s for sure: Wan has charted a course and is steering the ship his way, full speed ahead.
