Batman Left High and Dry in Aquaman Sequel
Batman fans might need to hang tight for another cinematic opportunity to see the Caped Crusader join forces with other DC superheroes. It turns out that the latest sequel in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, won’t be featuring either Michael Keaton’s or Ben Affleck’s Batman alongside Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, James Wan, the film’s director, gave us some insider perspective on why the Dark Knight won’t be making an appearance. He stated, “Probably not. All I’ll say is that those scenes were just to have something in the bank in case we needed to explain time continuity if we came out first. But it ended up with Lost Kingdom coming after The Flash.”
The Bigger Picture: Goodbye Batman, Hello Focus
While some fans might feel disappointed, Wan’s explanation suggests the decision could actually benefit the film. The Batman scenes, originally filmed to make sense of the DCEU’s timeline, turned out to be unnecessary. James Wan emphasized that they “were just to have something in the bank in case” the Aquaman sequel released before The Flash, which it did not.
James Wan comments if Batman might appear in #AquamanAndTheLostKingdom:
“Probably not. All I’ll say is that those scenes were just to have something in the bank in case we needed to explain time continuity if we came out first. But it ended up with Lost Kingdom coming after The… pic.twitter.com/Ys7uVpvVHz
— The Flash Film News (@FlashFilmNews) October 26, 2023
The Flash and the Shifting DC Universe Landscape
The move by Aquaman’s creative team echoes similar decisions made for The Flash. That movie also nixed cameos from other major DC characters, like Sasha Calle’s Supergirl and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. As DC Studios continues to shuffle its plans under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, these omissions make sense. The Flash’s ending went through three versions, as cameos from key characters were cut to align the film with new DCU strategies.
A Self-Contained Success Could Be Aquaman’s Lifeline
Given the DCEU’s recent box office struggles, it might actually be a good thing for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to steer clear of entanglements with other DC storylines. The first Aquaman film was a box office hit, grossing over $1 billion worldwide without the need for hero cameos. Standing on its own might offer the sequel a stronger shot at success, especially as the DCU undergoes its reboot.
Final Thoughts: Staying True to Aquaman’s Essence
It’s crucial to remember that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom aims to tell a story that is essentially self-contained. The absence of Batman or any other heroes can help the film focus on Arthur Curry’s journey, staying true to the essence of the character and the world he inhabits. Sometimes, less really is more.
So while we won’t see Batman making waves in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, fans can still look forward to an engaging, independent storyline that doesn’t need the Dark Knight to shine.
