Warner Bros. has release a brand-new Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trailer — one that aims to introduce higher stakes as the previous chapter of the DC movie universe comes to a close.
This is our second lengthy look at director James Wan’s sequel ahead of its December 22, 2023 premiere, and as previously teased, it looks like fans can expect a greater spotlight on Aquaman villain Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). The laser-beam-shooting villain has it out for the underwater hero’s family this time around, which includes more than just his mom, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), his dad, Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison), and his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson).
Jason Momoa’s leading character is a full-on father in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and although the aqua baby seems to have a few powers of his own, it looks like it won’t take long for Black Manta to show up and try to, as he says, “destroy everything he holds dear.”
The movie’s summary reads:
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will pick up where the 2018 original film left off. It’s poised to tell a story of revenge, but it will also be the last DCEU movie before DC Studios’ co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran attempt to reboot the entertainment universe.
The previous DCEU series of projects began with films like Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Wonder Woman, with the Aquaman sequel set to essentially serve as a bookend for that chapter next month. Some elements and characters from those movies are said to carry over when the new era begins when Superman: Legacy premieres July 11, 2025, but details on that front are still a bit hazy.
Tickets for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are on sale now.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
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