Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

  • Snyderverse Fans Won’t Love the News Out of the Latest ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Test Screening

    Snyderverse Fans Won’t Love the News Out of the Latest ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Test Screening

    Earlier this year, Aquaman star Jason Momoa posted a shot of him alongside Ben Affleck teasing the latter’s inclusion in the upcoming DC release Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Fans of Affleck’s Batman believed that this meant Affleck was back as the Bat, booting Michael Keaton’s version of the character and signaling a return to the Snyderverse continuity. According to one insider, a recent test screening of the film might not be the best Christmas present for those hoping to see Affleck return to the role.

    Following a test screening of Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, KC Walsh shared the news that Affleck was nowhere to be seen in the cut shown to a test audience.

    https://twitter.com/TheComixKid/status/1600366312890724353?s=20&t=yuBe9nkYicrWZqBpVdpj2A

    In fact, according to Walsh, neither Affleck nor Keaton’s version of Batman showed up in the cut.

    https://twitter.com/TheComixKid/status/1600520025143578624?s=20&t=yuBe9nkYicrWZqBpVdpj2A

    So what happened between Momoa’s tease and the test screening? Perhaps Affleck was just visiting? Maybe he did shoot scenes and throughout the chaotic front office upheaval at DC, which has found James Gunn in charge of storytelling, the decision was made to pull any Batman-related scenes from the film. At the moment, wild speculation is the only recourse for fans as they ponder what this means for the future of Batman outside of the Matt Reeves-led Gothamverse as many online rumors have led them to believe that Affleck was going to return to the role long-term. Again, a lot has changed since this Summer and until Gunn and DC co-chair Peter Safran present their long-term vision for DC Studios, fans are going to be left in the dark.

  • ‘Aquaman 2’ Director Teases First Look at the Lost Kingdom With New Concept Art

    ‘Aquaman 2’ Director Teases First Look at the Lost Kingdom With New Concept Art

    Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has just been delayed by quite a few months as it’ll now not hit theaters until December of 2023. OF course, an extra wait is going to be quite frustrating with the film has gone through a few delays already. Even Shazam: Fury of the Gods was pushed back and took its original March 2023 release date. Still, it seems that director James Wan didn’t want to keep people waiting too long for a glimpse at the sequel and took to his personal Instagram account to share some beautiful concept art.

    What stands out is that this might be our first tease of the Lost Kingdom in the title of the project. Of course, it doesn’t give away an actual look or confirmation if this is indeed the relocation but it’s a fun addition to speculate. He also goes on to highlight that this is just a glimpse of what they have to offer, which definitely teases just how big the scope is for this sequel.

    It’s a shame that the wait has been extended for quite a few months but we’ll hopefully get more teases as we get closer to the release. It is crazy to think that 2022 looked quite a bit different earlier this year when they teased releases of The Batman, Black Adam, The Flash, and the Aquaman sequel in one year only for it to end up with two of the advertised releases. We’ll have to see just how consistent they will be with next year going by this trend currently.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Shazam 2’ Faces Another Delay But Eyeing 2023 Release

    ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Shazam 2’ Faces Another Delay But Eyeing 2023 Release

    It looks like Warner Bros. Discovery is busy shuffling their schedules once again, as we have a new delay of various projects. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been pushed back again to December 25th, 2023. This is a massive jump considering it was already pushed back and wasn’t going to release in March next year. There’s a likely chance that they are trying to rekindle the $1 billion they made in December 2018 with the first Aquaman movie. Interestingly enough, it seems The Flash is still gunning for its current release date.

    That is not all, as Shazam: Fury of the Gods is now also pushed back once again. It was already pushed to release earlier on December 21st but now is taking over Aquaman‘s March release date. Perhaps they are hoping to replicate The Batman‘s legs with this release, but also move away from the danger that is Avatar: The Way of Water. Though it seemed like the Shazam sequel had a chance to create its own market as it had a very different demographic going against the Avatar sequel. Still, one can’t blame a studio for playing it safe with that giant tidal wave on the horizon.

    That is not all, as the upcoming Evil Dead Rise film is now a theatrical release alongside New Line’s House Party. These were originally HBO Max exclusives but highlight David Zaslav‘s continued move away from something he believes is not worth the investment for the streaming service. The Nun 2 is also set to release in September 2023 with an untitled event film scheduled for the upcoming Super Bowl weekend. We’ll have to see if anything else gets changed at this rate.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Aquaman 2’ Star Teases “Way More Humor” for the Sequel

    ‘Aquaman 2’ Star Teases “Way More Humor” for the Sequel

    It’s safe to say that Warner Bros. Discovery is a bit in shambles. At the moment, we have no idea what exactly they are trying to do moving forward. It was hinted that they are trying to establish a singular DC Universe but also continue work on Joker and The Batman sequels. Some older projects from the original DCEU under Walter Hamada‘s run are still in development, such as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

    While the drama surrounding The Flash and Ezra Miller has already overshadowed most of the upcoming projects, the Aquaman sequel wasn’t safe from it either. Amber Heard‘s trial with Johnny Depp has also thrown a shadow over the project with uncertainty about how much she’ll actually be featured in the sequel. While there is a lot of back and forth on the exact number, its main star Jason Momoa used the chance to tease a lot more comedy in the sequel while promoting his series See.

    In an interview with Variety, he talked about what it was like having Ben Affleck back on the set. He teases that there will be “way more humor” and that they had “a lot of laughs” while filming it. So, it seems that the tone from the first entry will return and even double down. There’s no exact details on how the story will be, but they have been rumors hinting at an unlikely duo of Aquaman and his half-brother Ocean Master having to team-up throughout their adventure. So, it sounds like it could be another blast at the theater.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    In perhaps the most shocking film news of the year, Warner Bros. Discovery made the move to cancel HBO Max’s Batgirl after it had already completed filming. The project was axed alongside Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, an animated sequel to 2020’s Scoob!, which was also nearly finished with its production process. These decisions came as the result of a change in leadership at the company, with new CEO David Zaslav making drastic modifications to Warner Bros. Discovery’s project output in an attempt to save the business money. Other such changes include the removal of multiple previously released HBO Max Originals, such as The Witches and An American Pickle, from the streaming service for the sake of partial tax write-offs.

    A new article from The Hollywood Reporter indicates more release alterations may be coming, specifically to the company’s slate of upcoming DC films. While fans are mostly concerned about projects that have yet to begin marketing, like Angel Manuel Soto‘s Blue Beetle or Andy Muschietti‘s The Flash, THR reports that imminent entries on Warner Bros. Discovery’s schedule could be in motion as well. Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are both listed as projects that might see a change in release dates in the near future. Fury of the Gods, which just had a grand showing at San Diego Comic-Con and recently dropped its first trailer, is currently set for a December 21st release, while The Lost Kingdom is supposed to hit theaters on March 17th, 2023.

    No reason was given for any potential shift, but THR did note that Aquaman may be undergoing some changes in its Batman department. Michael Keaton was reportedly set to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne from the original Tim Burton films, The Flash, and Batgirl, replacing Ben Affleck from the Zack Snyder universe as the Caped Crusader going forward. However, a recent video posted to Jason Mamoa‘s Instagram seemed to hint that Affleck would indeed return. The cancellation of Batgirl and uncertainty surrounding The Flash could mean the switch to Keaton has been undone, with THR also noting that Keaton’s original scene as Batman in The Lost Kingdom caused confusion among early test audiences. Warner Bros. Discovery has an earnings call on Thursday, and all eyes are directed toward Zaslav for answers.

    Source: THR

  • New ‘Aquaman 2’ Set Photos Confirm Ben Affleck’s DCEU Return

    New ‘Aquaman 2’ Set Photos Confirm Ben Affleck’s DCEU Return

    Here’s a surprise that very few might’ve expected but a new post by Jason Momoa may have hinted that Ben Affleck‘s Bruce Wayne is back in the DC Extended Universe. There’s been no word on where exactly the multiversal storyline is heading with Michael Keaton‘s arrival heavily teased (even though it was confirmed long ago) in The Flash. Now, it looks like the current Batman is making his return ahead of that film’s arrival as a new batch of set photos for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hints at his return.

    It’s a bit surprising that he’d just flat-out reveal this potential cameo. So, they could also just be playing around with viewers but he does seem to be wearing a very Bruce Wayne-esque suit. Not just that, but the video at the end reveals that “B.A.” has his own trailer with the DC films’ production title “Necrus” on it. So, it does seem likely we could see the return of his version of Bruce Wayne before Keaton takes over ahead of The Flash going into Batgirl.

    His inclusion could be another sign that this is a move to streamline some aspects before breaking apart the DC multiverse. They may have planned on including scenes of a Batman but with The Flash pushed back quite a bit, they may have wanted to add a familiar face for audiences. Plus, he is set to appear in the Ezra Miller-led project, which would help boost that film’s box office knowing that he’s going to tie it all together. Who knows what exactly their plans are moving forward, but it’s going to be exciting either way.

    Source: Instagram

  • UPDATE: Amber Heard Not Cut From ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

    UPDATE: Amber Heard Not Cut From ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

    Despite a report to the contrary, a spokesperson for Amber Heard has stated that the actress will not be removed from the upcoming DC film Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom.

    Referencing a report from Just Jared, Heard’s spokesperson had the following to say, “The rumor mill continues as it has from day one — inaccurate, insensitive and slightly insane.” The previous report stated that Heard’s role would be entirely recast and her scenes reshot following the conclusion of the defamation trial with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp.

    While Heard’s role in the Aquaman sequel was said to be considerably smaller than her role in the first film, it would still be expensive and problematic for Warner to cut her, recast her and reshoot the scenes. It’s possible that Heard’s role as Mera, Aquaman’s love interest, might be recast for future appearances in the DC universe, but for now it seems that the actress will remain on board through her already filmed appearance.

    Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom will hit theaters March 17th, 2023.

  • REPORT: ‘Aquaman 2’ Will Recast Amber Heard’s Mera

    REPORT: ‘Aquaman 2’ Will Recast Amber Heard’s Mera

    There’s been a lot of reports on what exactly the future looks like for Amber Heard in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. She was initially cast as Mera in the first film, and there have been countless petitions for Warner Bros. to recast the role. Now, the trial with Johnny Depp has come to an end with rumors circulating that she’d be cut entirely from the film. JustJared has now added to the story that she’ll be recast entirely but no further details have been given in regard to how that would look like or who may take over the role.

    There’s been a lot of reports and Warner Bros. Discovery is ready to invest money to recast and reshoot all her scenes after the drama surrounding her trial would make for an interesting move. There have been hints at what direction the sequel’s story will take and we’ve learned that her role has been greatly reduced, to begin with. So, it may not be as big of a deal as it seems at first.

    There have been quite a few fan castings on who could take the role, such as Emilia Clarke, especially due to her past with frontman Jason Momoa in Game of Thrones. Still, there’s no official confirmation yet from Warner Bros. and we may see an official statement regarding the recasting in the near future as the production enters reshoots eventually.

    Source: JustJared

  • RUMOR: Amber Heard’s Scenes in ‘Aquaman 2’ May Have been Cut

    RUMOR: Amber Heard’s Scenes in ‘Aquaman 2’ May Have been Cut

    Amber Heard and Johnny Depp‘s trial has been in the news for quite some time. During, there were many reveals regarding her role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, as well as Depp talking about what would’ve been his last Pirates of the Caribbean film. Yet, as Heard didn’t want out of her contract as hoped by Warner Bros., it seems that they may have decided to delete all her scenes in the upcoming Aquaman sequel after all.

    The news comes from Geeks Worldwide’s KC Walsh who shared the tidbit on his Twitter. Of course, there are no details but it does seem like they may have decided to move away from her entirely after already minimizing her role to some extent. It’s unclear how they may write around her absence, but we could see some reshoots in the future if this turns out to be true.

    If they had a meeting, it is very likely in response to the trial and worries from the corporation to draw in any more negative attention. Amber Heard has been the focus of coverage for this trial, especially on Social Media. For now, there’s no official word by Warner Bros. Discovery, which is going through quite a bit of change. So, we’ll see if they will even make an official announcement if this decision has truly been made.

    Source: Twitter

  • Amber Heard Confirms Her Role as Mera Was “Reduced a Bunch” in ‘Aquaman 2’

    Amber Heard Confirms Her Role as Mera Was “Reduced a Bunch” in ‘Aquaman 2’

    There’s been a lot of discussions surrounding Amber Heard‘s role in the upcoming Aquaman sequel. As Johnny Depp had to leave the Fantastic Beasts sequel as production started, many were surprised that Heard was still on board for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. As it turns out, Warner Bros. didn’t want her on the production and she fought for joining.

    During the proceedings of their lawsuit, she was asked about her involvement with the Aquaman sequel, where she confirmed that she had to fight “really hard to stay in the movie.”

    I have. I fought really hard to stay in the movie. They didn’t want to include me in the film.

    Amber Heard

    While she managed to stay on board for the production, after all, it seems her role had been quite minimized. She goes on to highlight that her role was “very pared-down version” of the initial script as they reworked it throughout production.

    I was given a script. Then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character, without giving spoilers away, two characters fighting with one another. They basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch.

    Amber Heard

    It definitely sounds like Warner Bros. was in a no-win situation if she fought for remaining in the film even as they tried to take a step back from Heard due to the allegations, especially the PR and the current legal battle. We’ll see just how much of her role made it into the film and what that may mean for the Aquaman sequel.

    Source: YouTube via Reddit