Director James Wan has revealed that the upcoming DC sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, will be a standalone comic book movie outing. Speaking with Comicbook.com, Wan explained that the Aquaman sequel will largely stand apart from the rest of the DC cinematic universe, which is sure to come as a major positive considering that this version of the DC universe will soon come to an end.

“Well, Aquaman – even the first film – has always been a very standalone film. That was always our approach: that it kind of lives in its own world, and that’s kind of how we’ve approached The Lost Kingdom as well.”

Not only will Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom go it alone, Wan also declared that the follow-up will take things “to the next level,” giving audiences more action and more Momoa.

“You know, people love Jason Momoa; people love him playing this role; and people love the action visuals of this space and this world. And that’s what we’re doing: we’re taking it to the next level and we are still expanding – and just any fans of Aquaman the character, that love Black Manta, this is the next level and I’m very excited to finally put out there to show them what we’ve been working on all these years.”

Directed by James Wan from a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldric, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom finds Momoa’s Arthur Curry fighting the good fight once again when an ancient power is unleashed. Aquaman must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to protect Atlantis, and the world, from irreversible devastation.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will reunite several members of the cast from the first movie, including Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius/Ocean Master, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Arthur’s father, and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Arthur’s mother and the former queen of Atlantis. The DC sequel will also add the likes of Randall Park, Vincent Regan, Jani Zhao, Pose breakout star Indya Moore, and Pilou Asbæk.

RELATED: James Wan Explains How He Managed the Changes of the DCU in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

The DCU Is All Set to Be Rebooted by James Gunn & Peter Safran
Warner Bros.

The likes of The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom have now been confirmed as the last outings in this iteration of the DC universe that began back in 2013’s Man of Steel. The franchise will be rebooted by Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, with the upcoming Superman reboot, Superman: Legacy, all set to kickstart the new DCU.

Starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released on 11 July 2025, and will be followed up with the superhero team-up flick The Authority, a Batman project titled The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, a Swamp Thing reboot, a Wonder Woman prequel series titled Paradise Lost, the animated series Creature Commandos, a series centered on Amanda Waller, a Green Lantern series titled Lanterns, and a series about Booster Gold.

But, could Aquaman star Jason Momoa play a different role in James Gunn’s DCU? While nothing has been confirmed so far, rumors have claimed for some time that Momoa will change roles for the newly recalibrated DCU, departing the role of Aquaman in favor of the intergalactic antihero, Lobo.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2023.