Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom looks to be another DCEU headache after The Flash, as a new report reveals wide-ranging BTS issues.

Warner Bros. Discovery is scrambling with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as a wide range of BTS issues have emerged in a new report about the DCEU installment. While a new DC Universe is on its way, 2023 still has one more DCEU film to deliver before that franchise is done for good. After The Flash’s massive failuer at the box office, Warner Bros. Discovery has Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom coming out this December, featuring Jason Momoa once again as the iconic Justice League hero. However, it appears there are more troubles following Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as the film is only a few months away from releasing in theaters.

A report from THR reveals Aquaman 2 underwent a total of three reshoots, the last a result of a long and chaotic journey behind the scenes. Per the trade, there have been multiple “different visions of executives” due to “story clarity.” This also goes into the situation with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s Batman issue, as both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton had shot scenes as their respective versions of Bruce Wayne. But the latest cut is reportedly not going to include either of them, as DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran did not want to “promise a movie universe that will not come to fruition.” Lastly, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has apparently had “several uninspiring test screenings,” which doesn’t bode well for the DCEU movie.

Aquaman 2’s Chances Of Being In The DC Universe Explained

Even though Aquaman is mostly a DCEU product, Momoa’s future with the franchise has been a bit unclear as DC Studios had implied that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could be part of the new DC Universe. By essentially being canon compliant, it appears DC Studios have been wanting to leave the door open for the Aquaman characters after the 2023 film. However, with these new reports, it begs the question of what Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s actual chances are in getting integrated into Gunn’s franchise.

Given how the DCEU’s latest films – Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and, most recently, The Flash – have been box office failures, DC Studios is likely going to want to distance itself from the former universe as much as possible. With Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, its chances of actually being able to perform well commercially are slimmer than ever, especially as its budget had to be expanded for the additional reshoots. At this point, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is almost guaranteed to mark the proper end of the DCEU as DC Studios heads into 2024.

While Momoa may be done as Aquaman, there is still that DC project that he couldn’t stop gushing about after meetings with Gunn and Peter Safran, which many believe is him getting to play Lobo. Those answers will likely not be given anytime soon given the ongoing Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Hopefully, regardless of how Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom does this December, fans won’t have to wait long to see Momoa in the DC Universe, whether as Lobo, Aquaman or someone else.

Source: screenrant.com