Jason Momoa is back on the Aquaman 2 set for yet another round of reshoots though fans and insiders believe it just spells more bad news for the James Wan-helmed sequel. Test screenings from earlier this February indicated The Lost Kingdom was not well received by the test audiences, going as far as calling it “one of the worst DCEU movies.”
With Blue Beetle set for August, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the final title of the year from DC Studios but its place among James Gunn’s DCU remains uncertain. The film’s plot reportedly focusing on a climate change theme is not being considered a worthy follow-up story to the 2018’s Aquaman. Moreover, the inclusion of Amber Heard‘s Mera has also attracted more bad press though going by an insider’s breadcrumb report – the issue appears to be in the story.
Industry insider ViewerAnon, who also broke the news on Aquaman 2’s poor test screening response indicates the reshoots are in play to alter the story’s outcome, “they’re further dialing Black Manta back as the main villain”. Moreover, actor Pilou Asbæk‘s role as Mongo the King of Necrus is portrayed as a Sauron-like ruler. Even so, fans are taking the additional photography news as a bad sign with some comparing it to the Justice League‘s reshoots scenario. Still, Black Manta also tested poorly in one of the earlier cuts shown to the test audience.
Some fans also believe the reshoots would replace Ben Affleck‘s Batman post-credits scene with George Clooney‘s version. Batfleck’s cameo was earlier shot to replace Michael Keaton‘s Dark Knight since plans to pursue more of the Burtonverse iteration were canned. With The Flash movie ending by showcasing Clooney’s Bruce Wayne – it’s possible but Scooper ViewerAnon suggests there are no cameos or major references to the DCEU.
Looks like they’re doing reshoots for #Aquaman2 👀 pic.twitter.com/MIcR73ruYm
— Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) June 17, 2023
I believe they're further dialing Black Mantis back as the main villain and playing up Pilou Asbæk as the Sauron-like King of Necrus https://t.co/2GnAGqgacZ
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) June 17, 2023
I don't think it's connected to anything else right now, there are no cameos or major references that I'm aware of
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) June 17, 2023
Why spend more money? It's apparently quite bad, DC is on a losing streak financially, reboot coming. https://t.co/ls6xZRV8Z1
— (Greatphase) (@GGeneralHolt8) June 17, 2023
So I’d totally expect at least one more final test before release, also, this movie is reaching Justice League levels of reshoot time https://t.co/J5Bw2B9nIa
— KC Walsh (@TheComixKid) June 17, 2023
it's hilariously sad that the DCEU is ending with 4 flops in a row. https://t.co/gbEKp7Hnal
— Eobard Thawne (@EobardT48319965) June 17, 2023
More reshoots? This film is cooked too I fear https://t.co/sWJzz0rv04
— 『 M U N E E B 』 (@broke_N_bad) June 17, 2023
Worked so well for The Flush. https://t.co/PHgrZbHBAC
— STEM (@steusmotus) June 17, 2023
I can't imagine being James Wan rn. Bro has reshot this movie like so many times now with so many different actors as Batman. It's legitimately insane how WB treated Aquaman and Wan after the success of the first one https://t.co/t4W0R9YoOk
— FutureSex//LoveSounds enjoyer (@MaxCobain04) June 17, 2023
Film is 6 months away and they’re doing reshoots. Still no trailer. The DC universe is doomed. https://t.co/HlpQfREy53
— Taigataro 🇳🇬🇯🇵 (@geisha_official) June 17, 2023
I’m hearing they’re changing the ending. Probably for the better. The test screening wasn’t the best. Will likely include more Black Manta in it. https://t.co/VzaTELGt33
— Maybe: Will Smith (Banned from Discord) (@bestever23) June 17, 2023
They're replacing this scene when Clooney, I'm certain of it https://t.co/UJ6IBmwGG8 pic.twitter.com/PtFtqaAYYY
— Blu 蓝兵 (@bluboy43) June 17, 2023
Another reshoot, it may actually be over https://t.co/aevicXGx2W pic.twitter.com/RgZnTzBcBD
— T'Challa Fan (@2TChalla2Stan) June 17, 2023
They probably including Clooney's Batman now…….
James Wan is really stuck bad in between WB's Mess https://t.co/0H6ysRG8wg— Obaid🏌️ (@Superman_07_) June 17, 2023
wb is torturing james wan https://t.co/GtLiAOd7h7
— jeremy (@jeremylovesyall) June 17, 2023
We're going to get a Batman cameo that's not Afleck or Keaton https://t.co/lhAGShiu2t pic.twitter.com/BCncbbxlXW
— Turtle 🔱 (@SteelSandRun) June 17, 2023
Third time they've done reshoots I'm afraid it's Joever for my fellow Aquaman fans (it's just me 😔) https://t.co/NcLiqYgLYH
— Connor4Real™ (@TwiIightwrId) June 17, 2023
The production budget for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom had reached a whopping $205 million so Wan was also instructed to minimize the reshoots budgets by WB’s Pamela Abdy. It’s unclear how much additional expense the studio has incurred since then, especially with the ongoing reshoots.
The third round of reshoots has many sharing their concern for James Wan over the repeated changes due to the mandates from DC Studios. Meanwhile, the rumor that Momoa could potentially move on from playing the King of Atlantis to portray Lobo in Gunn’s DCU remains an open topic.
Aquaman 2 will splash into theaters on December 25.
