Highlights
James Wan expressed his interest in directing a third Aquaman film despite initial criticism, stating he would love to return if given the same creative freedom.
Wan's participation in Aquaman 3 hinges on James Gunn's vision for the DC Universe, yet he remains open to the possibility and embraces a mindset of never ruling it out.
In response to behind-the-scenes conflicts, Wan addresses the speculation by confirming that Aquaman 2 underwent only a few days of reshoots, dispelling any exaggerated claims. He underscores the importance of maintaining a calm and composed demeanor when confronted with the commotion surrounding the film.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director, James Wan, has discussed the possibility of directing Aquaman 3 amidst initial criticism of DC Studios' sequel. He has clarified that he is eager to return for a third installment in the franchise. The fate of Jason Momoa's Aquaman remains uncertain as James Gunn leads the reboot of the DCEU into the new DC Universe. However, Wan appears to have confirmed his readiness to direct the third film in the Aquaman series if DC decides to move forward with it.
During an interview with Empire Magazine, Wan expressed his desire to direct a third Aquaman project in the future of the DC Universe. Wan's potential involvement depends on Gunn's plans for the DCU, which remain uncertain. There is a possibility that Gunn and Safran may approach Wan to direct Aquaman 3 in the new DC Universe, but Wan would only do so on one condition. "I haven't directed a third movie [in a series] before, so I'd be open to doing another [Aquaman] if I got the same freedom I've had on these first two," Wan said. "I'm not sure what direction [James Gunn and Peter Safran] are going in, though, so who knows? I've learned to never say never."
The filmmaker openly discussed the recent behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Aquaman 2. Contrary to rumors, he clarified that the reshoots only lasted seven or eight days in total, not three separate rounds. Wan also mentioned how he had to adopt a more calm and Zen approach in dealing with the noise surrounding him. He emphasized that the public narrative does not align with the reality of the situation. Wan revealed that they had a relatively short number of reshoot days for a movie of this scale, but the scheduling was difficult due to the challenges of coordinating with the actors after the initial shoot.
Recently, there were reports referencing "raw notes" from Amber Heard's therapist, Dr. Dawn Hughes, which revealed alleged behavior by Momoa and Wan towards Heard on the set of Aquaman 2. These reports claimed that Momoa harassed her by impersonating Johnny Depp during her defamation lawsuit and attempted to have her fired.
The impact of the BTS drama on the box office of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is still unknown as the movie's release approaches. It would be interesting to see if Momoa or any other members of the cast would address the reports in response to Wan's comments. The film is set to premiere in theaters on December 20, 2023.
Source: Empire Magazine
