Credit: DC StudiosJason Momoa has confirmed his exit from the role of Aquaman.
After 10 years, the DC Extended Universe is set to come to a close next month. What started with Man of Steel (2013) has spanned 15 films – most recently releasing Blue Beetle (2023), which didn’t exactly set the box office alight.
Financial disappointment has been a common trend throughout the course of the DC Extended Universe. Since the pandemic, only one film has turned a profit – Black Adam (2o22) – and even that Dwayne Johnson vehicle was viewed as a bomb to some extent.
After the release of Black Adam, Warner Bros. announced a major overhaul for its DC franchise. No DC films will be released in 2024 and 2025 will instead mark the beginning of a new era known as the DC Universe, starting with Superman: Legacy (2025).
Several cast members are expected to carry over into the rebooted DC Comics franchise, including Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle. However, even more are set to be replaced, including Henry Cavill as Superman. The role will instead be passed on to David Corenswet, who will be joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.
Before we get round to the DC Universe, however, there’s still one more film to come from the DC Extended Universe. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) will hit theaters on December 22 and will once again see Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman.
This time around, he’ll be be forced to turn to Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson), his half-brother imprisoned for committing crimes against Atlantis, for help defeating the ruthless pirate David Kane, AKA Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).
While the film’s predecessor made $1.152 billion at the box office – making it the highest-grossing film from the DC Extended Universe – expectations are slightly lower for the sequel. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has undergone extensive reshoots, which is rarely conducive to a promising final product, and has been delayed on multiple occasions. As the final installment in the dying franchise, there’s also a lingering sense of ‘what’s the point’ when it comes to paying to see the film in theaters.
Then there’s the drama behind the scenes. Fresh off her legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp, reports recently emerged that actress Amber Heard – who portray’s Momoa’s love interest Mera – was subjected to “torment” on the set of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Resurfaced therapy notes – allegedly from Heard’s psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes – leaked on Reddit after being unsealed from Heard and Depp’s legal case, claiming that Momoa wanted Heard to be fired and would pointedly dress like Johnny Depp, wearing “all the rings.”
Heard was reportedly forbidden from taking selfies with anybody on set or posting anything about the film. “I do my work and keep my head down,” one note reads. The film’s director, James Wan, raised his voice to Heard and complained that “I can’t even post about Aquaman” while making it seem like “it was [Heard’s] fault.”
With DC already heading for a reset, there have been questions as to whether Momoa will actually return as Arthur Curry in subsequent films. Now, the actor has confirmed his fate as the character – and it’s not good news.
“This is kind of like the end of this DC Universe,” Momoa told presenter Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on The Tonight Show. “I mean, things have happened before, so I guess if people like it… But there will always be a place for me at DC. They like me.”
Momoa has long been rumored to play a new role in the DC Universe. The theory is that he’ll play the interstellar mercenary Lobo and make his first appearance in Superman: Legacy. While Momoa didn’t confirm as much, it does seem like he’ll continue to have a role at the studio moving forward – even if it is a little bit more villainous than usual.
Would you like to see Jason Momoa continue to play Aquaman? Let us know in the comments!