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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom 2023
ActionBuddy comedy-dramaFantasy action
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a 2023 American superhero film adapted from the DC Comics character Aquaman. The movie was directed by James Wan, with a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. It serves as the sequel to Aquaman (2018) and marks the 15th and final installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Jason Momoa portrays Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who teams up with his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to stop Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) from murdering his family and using the cursed Black Trident to heat the planet. During this quest, they search for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas. Supporting actors include Amber Heard, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short, and Nicole Kidman. Wan also produced the film alongside Peter Safran and Rob Cowan under the banner of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Momoa suggested an Aquaman sequel while working on the first movie. Although Wan initially hesitated to proceed after the first film's box office success, he agreed in January 2019 to lead development. Johnson-McGoldrick was brought back as screenwriter a month later, and Wan confirmed his return as director in August 2020. He stated that the movie would deepen Aquaman’s worldbuilding, adopt a more somber tone, and explore issues like climate change. However, the final version instead leans into a buddy comedy between Aquaman and Orm. It draws inspiration from the Silver Age of comic books, featuring a retro sci-fi aesthetic similar to animator Ray Harryhausen's works and horror films from the 1960s, especially Planet of the Vampires (1965). Wan revealed the film’s title in June 2021, with principal photography starting that same month and wrapping up in January 2022. Locations included the United Kingdom, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and additional scenes filmed in New Zealand. Several reshoots occurred between July 2022 and June 2023 to adjust the storyline, which led to some actors’ roles being scaled back—particularly Heard's, whose participation caused controversy during filming.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom made its debut at a fan event held at The Grove in Los Angeles on December 19, 2023, before its nationwide release in the United States on December 22. Critics gave the film poor reviews, and it earned $440.18 million worldwide against a production budget ranging from $205 to 215 million.
Trailer
Plays from YouTube only after you click.
Cast
- Jason Momoa[[Arthur Curry
- Patrick Wilson[[Orm Marius
- Amber Heard[[Mera
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II[[Black Manta
- Randall ParkDr. [[Stephen Shin
- Dolph Lundgren[[Nereus
- Temuera Morrison[[Thomas Curry
- Martin Short
- Nicole Kidman[[Atlanna
Crew
- Director
- James Wan
- Story
- James Wan, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
- Producer
- Peter Safran, James Wan, Rob Cowan
- Cinematography
- Don Burgess
- Editing
- Kirk Morri
- Music
- Rupert Gregson-Williams
Details
- Production
- Atomic Monster, DC Entertainment, The Safran Company, Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
- Budget
- $205–215 million
- Box office
- $440.18 million
