Director James Wan has just shared on social media that Aquaman 2 (aka Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom) has just wrapped up filming. He added that “Yes, we do get very wet, a lot, on this show,” as stars Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson posed with him while getting sprayed with water.
Previously, both Jason and Patrick have commented on ideas for the sequel. Early on, Jason said that “Even when we were shooting Aquaman, I have the opening of Aquaman 2 ready,” and that he “went in and pitched it to [producer Peter] Safran, and I pitched it to [Warner Bros chairman] Toby Emmerich. They loved it. It’s awesome…” In turn, Patrick Wilson had requested James Wan to explore new worlds with the characters, to which the director replied at a 2020 Fandome event, “I can definitely guarantee you new worlds in this next one and I think you’re going to be very excited as an actor.”
James Wan has also said the sequel will be heavily inspired by the 1965 film Planet of the Vampires, in which astronauts fend off telepathic space vampires. Interestingly enough, 2022 marks the 100 year anniversary of Nosferatu, which could also play a factor in his choice of direction for the next installment. It is believed that he could be melding themes to tell the story about a lost, underground city called Necrus, as hinted in the sequel’s title.
Like Atlantis, Necrus is an underground city. The domed city has no exact location, in fact, it’s said to move. In the comic books, Necrus is considered unstable. This working title suggests that at least part of the movie should be taking place there.
It has been four years since the release of the first film that catapulted the oft-mocked character of the DC comics into the mainstream again following his well-received debut in the controversial Justice League film. It became the highest-grossing DC film with over $1.1 billion in global ticket sales. Aquaman 2 is set to release on December 16, 2022.
Sources: GFR, Digital Spy, Deadline