Who knows what to expect with the next few films Warner Bros. has lined up for the continuation of their DC Cinematic Universe? With so much shake-up and upheaval going on in the aftermath of BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, the only thing that seems to be for certain is that what's on the horizon won't be like Zack Snyder's most recent film. Change is definitely coming, and where we're probably going to be able to see it the most is in what James Wan is looking to execute with AQUAMAN.
Wan has talked pretty optimistically in recent months about the challenges AQUAMAN has and why he welcomes trying to tackle them, but the director didn't have to make the choice to go under the sea, so to speak. James Wan could have opted for a different project within the DCU, as he revealed to Mike Ryan at Uproxx. Wan was offered the decision to pick between AQUAMAN and THE FLASH, and we know how that process turned out.
But why? Why AQUAMAN over THE FLASH? Wan explains:
But the thing that ultimately pushed me more towards Aquaman is I love the possibility of creating a whole new world. I’ve always wanted to do a world creation story and visually create this amazing, incredible, magical kingdom. And also, I love the fact that Aquaman is an underdog character. I love the fact that people like to make fun of him. [Laughs.] I feel the bar is a lot lower and I can have fun with him!
Everyone makes fun of him! And I actually don’t mind that! What it allows me to do: I think people are a lot less precious with him than, let’s say, you were doing a Spider-Man or a Batman or whatever.
He's right… mostly. There are sure to be hardcore Aquaman enthusiasts who show up in 2018 talking about how James Wan doesn't understand Aquaman and somehow ruined their childhoods. There always are. But, for the most part, fans don't have anywhere near the same type of connection with the superhero that they do with others, and, as a result, Wan has some leeway to play within the world he's creating without having to be slavish to the source material that some will always check him against.
Plus, if he can make AQUAMAN into a character the mainstream can get excited about, then he will have done exactly what Warner Bros. asked him to do. And, if for some reason, it doesn't work, then so what? It was Aquaman. No one respects him anyway. Wan is basically playing with house money here. Let's hope he can turn it into big winnings for us all.
AQUAMAN is currently slated for a July 27, 2018 release.