Many reports have surfaced regarding the status of DC’s current and upcoming film slates. Now one report claims that Jason Momoa chose to exit playing Aquaman due to the “terrible” quality of the upcoming sequel.
The new film, titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, happens to be the last film of the original DCU. Many fans were questioning why James Gunn would choose to reboot the continuity after the film’s release rather than continue the stories of these characters. Now, as shared via Jeff Sneider, the quality of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is one reason for the change.
Specifically, he alleges that Jason Momoa will no longer play Aquaman so that he can focus on playing Lobo instead. This does line up with previous reports that the actor would return albeit as a new character for James Gunn’s DCU. However, the claims that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has turned out to be “terrible” are new. Here’s what Sneider shared:
“I hear it’s terrible and that’s why Momoa is gonna be Lobo going forward. But they can’t say that yet because then it would be a lame duck… and DC is hoping to wring another billion out of the box office. First one was awful too, so not a huge surprise.”
He insists that DC is waiting to announce Jason Momoa’s new role as Lobo. After all, they want to make their investment back on this upcoming Aquaman film. Of course, given the turmoil surrounding the DCU currently, it’s going to be a rough transition going to a whole new continuity. Especially while expecting these last few projects set in the current continuity to succeed. Hopefully we’ll have more concrete news soon. If nothing else, many fans have wanted to see Momoa play Lobo, so it could be a positive amidst the potential bad news.
James Wan, director of the first Aquaman film, returned to direct Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom from a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. He co-wrote the first Aquaman film alongside Will Beall and James Wan.
The sequel will once again star actor Jason Momoa as the titular superhero, Aquaman. The cast also includes Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta.
Audiences can currently expect Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to be released later this year on December 25, 2023.