Is ‘Aquaman 3’ happening? The King of Atlantis’ future hangs on one condition from the director
For years, ‘Aquaman’ has stood tall as one of DC’s most dependable big-screen blockbusters. With the first film smashing past the billion-dollar mark and its sequel closing out an entire era of storytelling, the character of Arthur Curry has long been considered a major asset for Warner Bros. But as the old DCEU officially shutters and James Gunn and Peter Safran build a completely new DC Universe (DCU) from scratch, fans are asking a simple but loaded question: Is there room for ‘Aquaman’ to swim again in a third solo movie? At the moment, there are no confirmed plans for a third installment.
Warner Bros. has made it clear that ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ was the final film of the previous continuity. The rebooted DCU is charting an entirely new course, and so far, ‘Aquaman’ hasn’t been mentioned as part of the lineup. Director James Wan has publicly addressed the possibility of returning, but with a major caveat. Speaking to Empire, Wan said he would only consider directing ‘Aquaman 3’ if he’s granted the same creative freedom he enjoyed on the earlier films. “I'd be open to another if I got the same freedom I've had on these first two,” Wan said. “But I’m not sure what direction [Gunn and Safran] are going in.”
His comments paint a picture of a franchise stuck in limbo. And with Gunn himself reiterating that nothing in the DCU is canon until ‘CC’ and ‘Legacy’ launch the new timeline, the survival of any pre-reboot storyline, including ‘Aquaman,’ remains extremely uncertain. Adding to the murkiness is the status of Jason Momoa, who has portrayed Aquaman since 2016. Momoa has said that he “highly doubts” a third film will happen, explaining that he doesn’t see the story naturally evolving into another installment and that he’s unsure how, or if, the character fits into DC’s new direction.
However, he wasn’t entirely dismissive. Momoa hinted that if fans demand it loudly enough, the studio might reconsider. Even so, industry insiders suggest Momoa is already being eyed for a different role in the rebooted universe, specifically Lobo, as reported by ScreenRant. If those rumors pan out, Momoa’s return as Aquaman becomes even less likely. Despite the doubts surrounding a potential third film, the impact of the franchise is undeniable. The 2018 original remains DC’s highest-grossing movie of all time, raking in over $1.15 billion globally.
Its sequel, released in 2023, brought Arthur and his estranged brother Orm together in a final stand against Black Manta, neatly tying off the storyline established in the DCEU. The character has also continued to thrive beyond the movies, with animated projects like ‘Aquaman: King of Atlantis.’ It introduces the underwater world to younger audiences and keeps the mythology alive through vibrant, comic-inspired storytelling. So for now, the King of Atlantis is adrift. Whether he resurfaces again is a question only the future DCU can answer.
