Aquaman was a blockbuster success in 2018, earning over $1.1 billion and leading Warner Bros. to quickly appoint James Wan to direct its sequel and a potential spin-off focused on The Trench. The follow-up, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, was released in late 2023, but by then, many fans and moviegoers had lost enthusiasm for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Despite the sequel receiving generally negative reviews, it still managed a moderate $440 million globally.
James Wan reunited with Patrick Wilson—who played Ocean Master—in their roles as producers on The Conjuring: Last Rites. In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, both were asked about working with DC Studios and the new DC Universe (DCU), as well as their interactions with James Gunn.
Patrick Wilson Confirms No Meeting With James Gunn
Patrick Wilson, no stranger to comic book projects given his role in Watchmen, revealed he has never met James Gunn.
“So I have no relationship there. Obviously, Peter, his partner, is our producer, so I’ve known Peter forever. I mean, we said what we needed to say with Orm, so yeah, I love the guy, love the character,”
Wilson said, referring to his connection with Peter Safran and their past work.
James Wan Taking a Step Back from Directing
James Wan also indicated that he has not closely engaged with James Gunn or DC Studios, as he is currently on a break from directing to focus on his mental health.
“I haven’t really. Peter and I have just chatted briefly on the surface, but I’ve actually just taken a bit of a hiatus from directing and just taking a break for my mental health because directing just takes so much out of you physically and mentally and emotionally,”
Wan explained.
He added,
“And so, who knows? Never say never. But for now, I’m slowly getting back in there. I tell you what I would be keen to do is, I love the idea of maybe getting back into horror,”
hinting at a possible return to the horror genre or even a horror-themed comic book project.
James Gunn’s New Direction for Aquaman in the DCU
Meanwhile, DC Studios seems to have moved away from the Aquaman franchise as it was previously known. Last month, James Gunn stated,
“I don’t think Aquaman is canon. It’s unlikely that Aquaman is a famous hero in the DCU as Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 is happening.”
This signals a clear shift in the studio’s plans for the character and the franchise’s future within the broader DC Universe.
Gunn has also recast Jason Momoa as Lobo, a character in the Supergirl series. If Aquaman returns to the DCU, he will likely appear in a different form, hopefully more consistent with his comic book roots. Given Gunn’s frequent mockery of Arthur Curry in the first season of Peacemaker, it seems unlikely that Aquaman will be a central figure in his vision for the new DCU.
Implications for the Aquaman Franchise and DC Universe
The shift in priorities at DC Studios under James Gunn’s leadership suggests that the future of Aquaman could be drastically different from prior films. With key figures like James Wan on a break and Patrick Wilson having no connection to Gunn, the original Aquaman team appears detached from the new DCU plans. Fans of the character may see a version of Aquaman that aligns closer to the comics, but the timeline and direction remain uncertain, as the Aquaman franchise seems to have paused for now.
