Nicole Kidman made a splash with DC Universe fans during her time as Atlanna in the first Aquaman. According to director James Wan, the sequel allowed him to expand Kidman’s role as a mentor to Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry in Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom.
It was recently revealed that Willem Dafoe would not be returning as Arthur Curry’s mentor Vulko in Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, leading many to wonder who Jason Momoa would work with throughout the film. According to James Wan, Dafoe’s absence allowed him to expand Nicole Kidman’s role as Atlanna in the upcoming sequel:
“Willem is not in this one, no,” Wan told EW. “Part of the reason was because his schedule did not work out for us. But what that allowed me to do was expand on Atlanna’s role. Atlanna in this one ultimately becomes Arthur’s advisor. Because Arthur’s not from this world, she helps him better understand the world and the politics of how things work.”
Fans are certain to be pleased with Nicole Kidman’s expanded role in Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom given her relatively minor role in its predecessor. Though given the film comes in at a scant two hours, it’s unclear how large of a role Atlanna will play in Arthur Curry’s journey.
The future of the DC Universe
James Gunn and Peter Safran told journalists that their vision for the DC Universe includes locked scripts, wiggle room, and a unified storyline across film, television, animation, and video game projects. The two explained that the DC Universe could bring back elements from previous DC regimes, meaning that their eight-to-year plan is not a full reboot.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, and Blue Beetle have all been released following the announcement of the new DC Universe, with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom still slated to hit theaters in 2023. Will the characters from those movies make appearances in the new DCU? Only Gunn and Safran know.
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