Just a few years ago, as the DC Extended Universe was still blooming, there was an urge to get things done as fast as possible when it came to building its shared universe. WB became quite impulsive with its projects, green lighting spinoff after spinoff, most of which would never come to fruition.
Hot off the success of Aquaman, WB announced development had begun on a spinoff focusing on the Trench with undersea monsters featuring in the film aptly titled The Trench. News on the project would go dark, though, and eventually, the film would be shelved alongside Ava Duvernay‘s New Gods.
Little was known about the Trench film, aside from that it would feature the frightening fish-men of the deep; the same fish-men that would eventually aid Arthur and Mera in the fight against Orm, earning Arthur the throne. However, today James Wan took to Instagram to clear up a bit of what the trench would’ve featured. He revealed that it was originally intended to be a Black Manta solo project, likely featuring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II reprising his role as David Kane in the film.
While the project isn’t in development as of right now, critical and fan reception to the Aquama and The Lost Kingdom, featuring Manta in a much larger role, could determine if that film has legs and could be revived. The film could be something very different for DC, taking the comic book film genre in a new direction with a horror approach, one of director James Wan‘s specialties in film.
The project was initially set to be written by Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald, with Wan set to produce the project. No director or casting was ever announced, aside from Mateen likely leading the film.
SOURCE: Instagram
