The upcoming “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” looks set to offer something a little different to its predecessor.
Whereas that first one centered on Jason Momoa’s Aquaman/Arthur Curry teaming for a decent chunk of the runtime with Amber Heard’s Mera, this one has Aquaman teaming with his brother and the first film’s villain Orm/Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson) for much of it.
Until now the talk has been about how this is a somewhat darker entry than the first film, with some ideas from the scrapped “The Trench” spin-off film incorporated into it.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not lacking for comedy. Speaking with Empire, the film’s director James Wan rattles off at least three 1980s and 1990s action film classics when comparing the shift in tone:
“From the start, I pitched that the first film would be a Romancing The Stone-type thing – an action-adventure romantic comedy – while the second would be an outright buddy comedy. I wanted to do Tango & Cash! …Jason plays Arthur larger-than-life; Patrick plays the straight man. It’s not unlike what Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones did in Men In Black – like Tommy, Patrick plays it dry, but very funny.”
Wan has previously indicated that the sequel is essentially a standalone and thus isn’t as impacted by the ending of the DCEU as some of the other films.
In the new film, Aquaman must forge an uneasy alliance with Orm to protect Atlantis, and the world, from irreversible devastation.
Also back are Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, and Randall Park as Stephen Shin, and they’re joined by Jani Zhao as Stingray, Indya Moore as Karshon, Vincent Regan as Atlan, and Pilou Asbaek in a mystery role.
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” opens in cinemas on December 25th.
