Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer And More Details

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"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" figures to be the last film in the oft-criticized DC Extended Universe, ending the series with a bang and paving the way for James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe reboot. How that all will play out remains to be seen, but there's no denying that fans of Jason Momoa's Aquaman will be in for a treat. If Arthur Curry was your favorite character in "Justice League" and you had a blast watching the first film, then "The Lost Kingdom" looks to be a dream come true.

Helmed once again by director James Wan, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" will continue to expand the ever-exciting world of Atlantis and build a bigger Aquaman-centered universe. Given that our world is about 70% ocean, the possibilities are endless concerning what Wan and company could do. Picking up only a few years after the 2018 film, this next installment doesn't look to be holding anything back.

Although "The Lost Kingdom" may be an important stepping stone for the new live-action DC Universe, fans are still understandably skeptical about the film, as online rumors claim that Warner Bros. Discovery has given up on the "Aquaman" franchise and expects the film to flop at the box office. With so much doubt looming over the impending release, it's important to clarify exactly what's going on with the next "Aquaman" before the film hits theaters. Here's everything you need to know before the premiere of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."

We can safely assume that "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" will continue Aquaman's story from his previous appearances in the DC Extended Universe, picking up after the events of the original "Aquaman." As fans might recall, the first film saw the titular superhero defeating his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), and taking over as king of Atlantis.

According to the official synopsis for "Lost Kingdom," Aquaman's new reign comes under attack after his old enemy, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), arrives in Atlantis seeking revenge. "Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all," reads the synopsis, courtesy of DC and Warner Bros. "This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force."

Following the return of Black Manta, Aquaman is forced to team up with his imprisoned brother as the two try desperately to save their family's kingdom and the world from the destructive power of the Black Trident. With these two brothers bickering, it's sure to be a blast as they battle all sorts of aquatic enemies to protect their homeworld.

When the original "Aquaman" swam into theaters back in 2018, the undersea adventure earned a staggering $1.14 billion, which made it the fifth highest-grossing movie of the year. Needless to say, Warner Bros. didn't want to screw around with success, so they brought on the same filmmaker who sailed the original movie to box office glory — James Wan.

In addition to helming both "Aquaman" movies, Wan is no stranger to action fare, as he directed both "Furious 7" and "Death Sentence." Of course, most moviegoers probably associate Wan with the horror genre, as he also directed "Saw," "The Conjuring," and "Insidious," among other creepy films. And evidently, he had his fair share of horror working on "The Lost Kingdom," as Wan had to undergo three separate reshoots, which The Hollywood Reporter described as "almost an unprecedented number."

Warner Bros. and DC have famously undergone some regime changes over the last few years, and evidently, new bosses demanded new angles on the material. Despite all the behind-the-scenes drama, Wan got it done — the man is a pro — and even though multiple people have given him notes, the filmmaker insists "The Lost Kingdom" is still his creation, telling Entertainment Weekly, "At the end of the day, this is my movie."

In the first official trailer for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," it seems like things are going pretty great for Arthur Curry. After spending so many years as a wanderer, he's finally got everything together. The man has a wife, a kid, and a new job — running Atlantis. However, the calm always comes right before the storm, and Aquaman's wonderful new life is thrown into chaos with the emergence of his old foe, Black Manta. 

Covered in scars from his last encounter with Arthur, the villain isn't keeping his intentions a secret. "I'm going to kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear," he says matter-of-factly. "I'm going to murder his family and burn his kingdom to ash." Wow. Tell us how you really feel.

Black Manta plans on achieving his murderous goals with the help of the black trident, a cursed weapon possessing some powerful dark magic. At one point, we're told he "plans to end the bloodline," which might be bad news for Aquaman's newborn baby. However, Aquaman won't take this sitting down and joins up with his scraggly-looking brother, Orm, to dish out Atlantean justice. The rest of the trailer ought to get DC fans pumped, as it features giant sea monsters, fantastical worlds, undersea battles, and plenty of fun interactions between Arthur and his very irritated sibling.

It's been quite a while since Arthur Curry has gotten his own solo film. Not counting his appearance in "Zack Snyder's Justice League" or a quick cameo in "The Flash," the last time we saw our favorite fishy hero was all the way back in 2018.

Needless to say, a lot happened in "Aquaman," from Arthur battling his brother to making an enemy for life out of Black Manta. If your memory's a bit hazy about what went down — or if you've not yet witnessed the wonders of an octopus playing drums or ever heard Julie Andrews of "Sound of Music" fame voicing a massive kraken — then perhaps it's time to give "Aquaman" a watch.

You can find the original film on several different platforms. You can stream "Aquaman" on Prime Video, TruTV, and Max (which is also home to many other DCEU films), or if you'd rather rent the film, it's available on sites such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu for $3.99.

As a part of unofficial Hollywood law, most comic book and superhero movies generally derive their plots from the original source material. "The Dark Knight" was based in part on "Batman: The Long Halloween," "The Avengers" was inspired by "The Ultimates," and even "Zack Snyder's Justice League" takes some cues from Geoff Johns' "New 52" take on the team. It shouldn't come as a surprise that "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" does the same.

At the end of the trailer for the movie, Warner Bros. and DC Comics promoted a few graphic novels that showcase the recent history of our favorite Atlantian king. "The Trench" and "War for the Throne" are both stories written by DC scribe Geoff Johns when he reinvented Aquaman for a modern audience. The third book, "The Drowning," was helmed by Dan Abnett and set during the "DC Rebirth" era, which sought to combine the traditional DC status quo with modern stories in a blended universe. "The Drowning" is also notable due to Arthur's attempts to make peace between his undersea people and the surface world.

Of course, these aren't the only Aquaman stories that likely inspired "The Lost Kingdom," but given that they're being officially promoted by the film, there's probably a strong correlation. Additionally, it seems like the events of "Adventure Comics #452" may come into play here, but we'll explore that tale a bit more later on.

Before we jump into the final DCEU adventure, it might be worth going back and taking a look at where our favorite live-action Aquaman has been. After his brief "found footage" cameo in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and an even quicker cameo via a photograph in "Suicide Squad," Jason Momoa made his first official appearance in 2017's "Justice League." When Batman first meets him, Arthur is disillusioned and depressed, having been cast out by his own people. It's only after meeting others like him and saving the world that he sees the value in being a hero and a king.

A year later, Arthur is confronted by Mera (Amber Heard) and Vulko (Willem Dafoe), who need his help to save Atlantis. Arthur's half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) is quickly running the kingdom into the ground and aims to declare war on the surface world. This leads to Arthur and Mera discovering the Trident of Atlan, finding his mother Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), and reclaiming the throne after defeating Orm. "Aquaman" ends with Arthur now ruling as the king of Atlantis while superheroing in his off time.

Unfortunately, Aquaman doesn't appear much in the DCEU after that. He's mentioned here or there in movies like "Shazam!," but it wasn't until a cameo in the Season 1 finale of "Peacemaker" that Momoa returned to the role, alongside Ezra Miller's Flash. Speaking of, Arthur drunkenly reunites with Barry Allen at the end of "The Flash" too, which is fitting given how that movie wraps up.

Before James Gunn and Peter Safran opted against saving the DCEU, the franchise was going in a very different direction following the events of "The Flash." Following his turn in "The Flash," Michael Keaton's Batman was set to appear in "Aquaman 2," as well as in the now-scrapped "Batgirl" movie.

But other plans were made. There was a time when "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" was meant to premiere before the events of "The Flash," and because of that, reshoots were made to replace Keaton's cameo with Ben Affleck's version of the character. Of course, fans were excited by the news, and many had hope that the DCEU was about to find its footing again, especially after Henry Cavill's way-too-brief return as Superman at the end of "Black Adam." And then Gunn and Safran came in.

DC Films became DC Studios, and the DCEU was retconned in favor of the upcoming DC Universe, which aims to reboot the live-action franchise anew with a brand new Batman and Superman. Needless to say, Batman's cameo — be it Affleck or Keaton — is deep underwater.

In the first "Aquaman," it's revealed that there are seven kingdoms of Atlantis. As its king, Arthur's quest to unite them is near the top of his to-do list, but we're a bit fuzzy on what the seventh kingdom might actually be. Of course, there's Atlantis itself, and we soon learn of the others, which include Xebel (where Mera's family hails from), the Kingdom of the Fishermen, the Kingdom of the Brine, the Kingdom of the Deserters, and the monstrous Trench.

According to the canon children's novel "Aquaman: Arthur's Guide to Atlantis," a young Arthur once asked Vulko about the fate of the Lost Nation. Vulko explains that nobody knows. The Lost Nation will likely be explored in full in the next "Aquaman" movie, but if you're looking for a clear basis as to who they might be from DC Comics history, well, you may be out of luck.

Though Atlantis, Xebel, the Trench, and the Deserters were all addressed in the DC continuity prior to the 2018 film, the comic book versions of the final three kingdoms weren't revealed until afterward in the "Echoes of A Life Lived Well" arc. The Brine is the first, being transplanted into the comics from the DCEU, and the Kingdom of the Wrights and the Kingdom of the Sea Lights followed. The Wrights are a bunch of underwater rodents, while the Sea Lights are strange bioluminescent humanoids. More than likely, the film will take a completely different approach.

Also appearing in the trailer for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who swore vengeance on Aquaman back in the first movie after the superhero refused to save his dying father. Of course, the comic book version of their rivalry is much darker than that, with Aquaman purposely killing Manta's father in revenge following his own father's death. Additionally, recent comics have revealed that Manta (whose real name is David Hyde) is actually a long-lost descendant of the Kingdom of the Deserters.

In the DCEU, however, Manta seems to be completely human (for now), which puts him at a significant disadvantage when facing off against a superhero like Aquaman. Therefore, using Atlantean technology gifted to him by Ocean Master, Manta has sworn revenge on his adversary. But this time around, Black Manta's abilities have been upgraded, seemingly through the use of the previously unseen Black Trident. This magical artifact originates from the time of the first King Atlan and seems to give the one who wields it incredible powers.

Though it's unlikely a direct adaptation of either, this new Black Trident seems to borrow from two different weapons from Aquaman's comic book adventuress: the Trident of Triton and the Dead King's Scepter. Triton's trident simply directed the Olympian's power, while the Dead King's Scepter gave the user control of the sea. From what we see of the Black Trident in the trailer, it may even unleash the dead (among other things).

This might seem like a strange question to ask about an "Aquaman" sequel given that the first film wasn't particularly frightening, but it's valid when you consider director James Wan's greater filmography. A modern master of horror, Wan rose to international acclaim when he co-created and directed the very first "Saw" back in 2004. The film was so popular that a sequel was greenlit every year for the next six years until "Saw 3D" in 2010. But even then, Wan's time with the genre had only just begun.

In 2010, Wan directed the first "Insidious," which starred future "Aquaman" actor  Patrick Wilson and spawned a plethora of sequels. A few years later in 2013, Wan directed "The Conjuring," which likewise sparked an entire cinematic universe. Since then, he's worked on several other horror movies, including 2021's "Malignant." No wonder Wan used his trademark horror techniques during the Trench sequence in the first "Aquaman."

So when the trailer for "The Lost Kingdom" shows an undead army controlled by Black Manta? Well, it's no wonder Wan admitted to adding a certain horror flare back into the sequel. "Just like the first movie had a touch of my horror sensibility, you know, in regards to the Trench sequence, I would say there will be a little bit of that in this next one," Wan said at 2020's DC Fandome event.

Bet you didn't know that "Aquaman" was originally followed up by a comedic three-part animated mini-series for what was then called HBO Max in 2021, did you? Executive produced by none other than James Wan himself, this animated spin-off picks up immediately after the 2018 film with Aquaman's first day on the job as King of Atlantis. Unsurprisingly, Jason Momoa doesn't reprise the DC superhero here, instead being replaced by Cooper Andrews of "The Walking Dead" and "Shazam!" fame. 

But how canon is this show, really? Though it borrows from the events of the DCEU, it's not canon with its live-action counterpart. For starters, Ocean Master (voiced here by Dana Snyder) isn't imprisoned by the Atlantian forces as we see in the trailer for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." Instead, he's allowed to roam semi-free as his half-brother rules from the palace, causing trouble for Aquaman every chance he gets. 

Beyond that, the zany cartoon tone of the series is a bit of a departure from the DCEU as a whole, even if "Aquaman" does lean a bit more into the comedy than most. Though "King of Atlantis" serves as a hilarious animated trilogy, it's not necessary viewing for the upcoming "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" — just a fun detour for younger fans enamored by the character.

One of the biggest questions on fans' minds concerning "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is whether it will get a follow-up of its own. More than likely, that will depend on how well the blockbuster does in theaters this Christmas, but that may not be the only competing factor.

"I'm aware of [the impending DCU reboot]. I mean, I use the analogy that I'm living in a house that's getting renovated," James Wan told Screen Rant in September 2023. "But the beauty about Aquaman is that we've always designed these two films to be within their own world." Given Wan's confidence, it's possible that future installments could go the way of Matt Reeves' out-of-continuity project "The Batman" — an easy way to keep Momoa around. But that doesn't mean the horror-turned-superhero director wants to go a third round in the ring.

"Oh, buddy," Wan told Entertainment Weekly when asked if he'd want to do a third "Aquaman" feature. "I don't know. This film has taken up so, so much of my life, so much of my time, all I can think about now is taking a long break." One can hardly blame him. Production was stalled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his Black Manta-centered spin-off "The Trench" was canceled, and the entire DCEU went up in flames. It's entirely possible that this could be the end of Aquaman's on-screen adventures, though we certainly hope for more.