Aquaman 2 Shattering Records: Warner Bros and DC Face Unprecedented Setback

Highlights

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is breaking a negative record within the franchise by not releasing its first official trailer with only 114 days left before its December release.

Concerns are growing due to the lack of promotional material for Aquaman 2, especially in light of numerous box office failures throughout the past year and Warner Bros.' apparent inaction in guaranteeing the success of the sequel. Even though the success of the first film indicates potential fan interest, it remains uncertain whether Aquaman 2 can achieve similar triumphs at the box office.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, unfortunately, started off on a negative note for the franchise, which may pose challenges for its theatrical release. The film delves into the details of Aquaman's origin and follows his journey to thwart his half-brother Orm's plan of uniting underwater kingdoms to become the Ocean Master and wage a war against the surface world. While it received mixed reviews from critics, audiences found it to be an enjoyable watch, leading to tremendous financial success at the box office and making it the most profitable DC film to date. As a result, a sequel was quickly greenlit, and actor Dolph Lundgren expressed confidence that Aquaman 2 would surpass its predecessor.

In a similar fashion to The Flash's exceedingly delayed release following its underwhelming performance in theaters, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has set a negative record for the franchise that does not bode well for its box office success. As noted by The Direct, despite being just 114 days away from its highly anticipated December release, the film has yet to debut its first official trailer. This makes it the DC film with the shortest gap between the release of its first trailer and its theatrical premiere. Unfortunately, this time frame will only continue to dwindle if Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios continue to withhold crucial marketing materials from potential movie-goers. Notably, The Flash had previously held the record with a trailer-to-release gap of 124 days.

Despite the absence of a public release for the Aquaman 2 trailer, fans were given a glimpse at the film during the CinemaCon 2023 event. This event also featured Christopher Nolan's successful Oppenheimer screening, where he made a bold declaration. However, as of the end of August, no further promotional material has been unveiled for the film, setting a new record for delay. In contrast, the longest interval for promotional material was seen in 2016's Suicide Squad, which received widespread criticism but still achieved great success at the box office with nearly a billion dollars in earnings.

The announcement that the actor's guild strike will not delay the release of Aquaman 2 has raised concerns among many. The strike prevents the film's stars from promoting it or attending the premiere. The lack of an official trailer so close to the film's release only adds to the unease. Warner Bros.' decision not to take action to ensure maximum promotion and endorsement for the sequel, especially after the failure of their big-budget Flash film, seems increasingly peculiar, particularly considering the numerous box office failures throughout the year.

Despite concerns that Aquaman 2 may not live up to expectations, the film possesses several advantages compared to other releases this year. The triumph of the first installment suggests a potential interest from fans in the character or Jason Momoa himself. However, the ultimate judgment of whether the film can replicate its success will only be evident at the box office. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled for a theatrical premiere on December 20, 2023.

Source: The Direct