Actually, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s big plan was supposed to help DC to new heights. Instead, the comic book universe seems to stumble from one problem to the next. First, Black Adam with Dwayne Johnson fell short of expectations and caused a lot of negative headlines.
Now Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods fails not only with criticism, but also at the box office. The film underperformed financially over its opening weekend, grossing $30.5 million in the US, according to Variety. The predecessor still took 53.3 million dollars.
On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the film prefers to focus on classic and now worn-out superhero bombast instead of the likeable family film approach of the predecessor. On the other hand: With upcoming projects that will replace almost all DC characters with fresh faces and new stories, Shazam 2 doesn’t feel terribly indifferent at.
Still, DC fans don’t have to jump into the big superhero depression, because there’s hope. Aquaman: Lost Kingdom will be released in late 2023 with Jason Momoa. The film could not be just one worthy conclusion to the “old” DC universe deliver, but also whet the appetite for the future of the DCU under Gunn and Safran. And that’s why. At least if he sticks to a few things.
1. Aquaman 2 needs to jump on the Avatar hype
As a successful brand, Aquaman should not be underestimated. Within the DCEU, which does not include Joker, the first part is the highest-grossing film in the superhero universe, grossing over $1.1 billion worldwide.
Check out a sneak peek of Aquaman 2 here:
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – DC FanDome Sneak Peak (English) HD
But in order to surpass the previous part once more and to triumph despite the slowly setting in superhero fatigue, Aquaman 2 should be based on another blockbuster: Avatar 2. The massive success of James Cameron’s Avatar sequel has the Fascination of underwater worlds in the cinema additionally boosted.
The perfect time, then, to show another, elaborately staged underwater world. And so far things are looking good: actor Patrick Wilson has already announced spectacular special effects that should keep up with Avatar 2.
2. DC needs to celebrate Jason Momoa farewell as an event
Aquaman 2 ends an era after which the DC film universe wants to completely reinvent itself. Instead of moping, the blockbuster should be announced and celebrated as a bombastic final event.
Aquaman’s box office success is reason enough to cancel Jason Momoa’s farewell (?) like a rock star concert raise, which inspires the fans one last time. The trailers and marketing in particular should be all about this event character of Aquaman 2 and show skeptical fans that DC doesn’t want to get rid of its “old” heroes as quickly as possible.
3. Aquaman 2 needs to be just as weird as its predecessor
Director James Wan also used the $200 million budget for the first Aquaman film to accommodate many staging quirks in the DC blockbuster. Like Nicole Kidman, who eats a goldfish from the aquarium in the first five minutes, or Aquaman and Mera, who enter the dust-dry Sahara to a cover version of the Toto song “Africa”. When was the last time there was a superhero film that hid such absurd things even in small details? Deadpool?
If Aquaman 2 relies on such weird ideas again and already intersperses them in trailers, interest in the sequel could increase massively. Straight cover versions of iconic songs are perfect for platforms like TikTok – and Wednesday and M3gan recently proved that films and series can only benefit from viral moments.
4. DC must rely on Jason Momoa as the driving force despite the Dwayne Johnson debacle
Jason Momoa rose to stardom with his first major role as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. With the success of the first Aquaman film, he finally made it to the top of Hollywood. In Fast & Furious 10 in 2023 he plays one of the most important roles, for which he was praised by Michelle Rodriguez as the best male villain of the whole series so far. Sounds like his presence in the cult action franchise will bring him even more fans, which Aquaman 2 can only benefit from – if it plays its cards right and puts Momoa at the center of all PR activities.
Admittedly, this approach with Dwayne Johnson didn’t work out recently with Black Adam. The Rock also wanted to take over the entire DC universe single-handedly and put his personality before everything else. Momoa, on the other hand, boasts a similar muscular charisma, but has never really played to the fore. He’s a smoother, less self-centered Sympathy variant of Dwayne Johnsonwhich perhaps also explains his Fast & Furious 10 commitment.
According to everything that is known so far, Aquaman 2 is the end of Jason Momoa’s superhero anyway. So why not bang it out again instead of slowly letting the water out of the tub? Shazam was a disappointment. Aquaman 2 could set a monument to the old DC squad.
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