Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

"Aquaman 2" redirects here. For the second iteration of Aquaman in the comics, see Aquaman II.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Wan
Screenplay by
Story by
  • James Wan
  • David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
  • Jason Momoa
  • Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
Based onCharacters from DC
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDon Burgess
Edited byKirk Morri
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
    • December 19, 2023 (2023-12-19) (The Grove)
    • December 22, 2023 (2023-12-22) (United States)
Running time
124 minutes[5]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$205–215 million[6][7]
Box office$434.4 million[8]

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a 2023 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. Directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, it is the sequel to Aquaman (2018) and the 15th and final film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Jason Momoa stars as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who must work with his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to prevent Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) from killing his family and using the cursed Black Trident to overheat the world while searching for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas. Amber Heard, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short, and Nicole Kidman also star in supporting roles.

Momoa pitched a story for an Aquaman sequel during production of the first film. Wan did not want to rush a sequel after the first film's success but agreed in January 2019 to oversee development. Johnson-McGoldrick signed on to return as screenwriter a month later, and Wan was confirmed to be returning as director in August 2020. He said the film would expand on Aquaman's worldbuilding, have a more serious tone, and feature themes such as climate change. It is a buddy comedy between Aquaman and Orm, and was inspired by the Silver Age of Comic Books with a retro science fiction vibe similar to the works of animator Ray Harryhausen and the horror films of the 1960s, specifically Planet of the Vampires (1965). Wan announced the sequel's title in June 2021, and principal photography began later that month and concluded in January 2022. Filming took place in the United Kingdom, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, with additional filming in New Zealand. Several reshoots took place between July 2022 and June 2023 to alter the storyline while some actors' roles were reduced, including Heard's whose involvement was subject to controversy during production.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom premiered at a fan event at the Grove, Los Angeles on December 19, 2023, and was released in the United States on December 22. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $434 million worldwide against a production budget of $205–215 million.

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