James Wan Promises A Swashbuckling Aquaman

Director James Wan gave a short interview with Entertainment Tonight last week, talking about the kind of movie he plans his 2018 Aquaman to be. The main quote everyone is taking away from it is that he wants the film to be "a classic sort of swashbuckling action adventure", which is certainly music to my ears.

While what we've seen of Jason Momoa's Aquaman in the Justice League sizzle reel seems to be more in line with the gritty, dour mood seen in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, that doesn't mean Wan and his screenwriters put the Sea King through a different sort of story, as it seems Patty Jenkins is doing with next year's Wonder Woman. I sure hope that's the case, I would love nothing more than an Aquaman film to be rollicking good time, the kind of movie (like what see you above) that you can watch over and over again, and it never gets old.

Dear Mr. Wan: If you need an Aquaman expert to come visit the set to make sure you are making the kind of film that Aqua-Fans will love, I am available.

Black Manta, Movie Star

As all Aqua-Fans have heard by now, it's been reported that Black Manta will indeed be the villain in the 2018 Aquaman movie. I don't think this comes as a big surprise to anyone, since he is by far the Sea King's most famous foe, comes with a cool handle (let's face it, "Ocean Master" elicits a snicker), and it gives the filmmakers the chance to come up with a really cool voice modulator! Seriously, after Challenge of the Super Friends, James Wan and co. have their work cut out them.

Who does everyone want to see play Manta? My first instinct would be the intense and charismatic Chiwetel Ejiofor, but Marvel has him wrapped up across the street as Baron Mordo in Doctor Strange. Although, if JK Simmons can go from The Daily Bugle to the GCPD, then who knows?

Willem Dafoe is Vulko

One other big piece of Aquaman movie news that dropped last week was that 1)Vulko will be in 2017's Justice League, and 2)big time thespian Willem Dafoe will be playing him!

Aside from the casting news, which is surprising in itself, I'm really floored to learn that Vulko will even be in the movie! Just how far into the Aqua-verse is Justice League going to get? The addition of Mera was a pleasant surprise, now we're getting Vulko too?!? Can The Scavenger be far behind?

Justice League opens November 2017.

Aquaman Movie Logo

A bunch of info about next year's Justice League movie dropped earlier this week, including a shot of the various character solo movie logos. This was spotted at a licensing-related event, so while it's not guaranteed that this will be the logo seen in the solo Aquaman movie, it will at least be seen on the inevitable tie-in merch.

It's really happening, Aqua-Fans!

Amber Heard is Mera

Obviously the big news for Aqua-Fans last week was that actress Amber Heard (The Danish Girl, Machete Kills) has been confirmed to be playing Mera in not only the Aquaman solo film in 2018, but in the Justice League film slated for release next year!

I just haven't seen much of Ms. Heard's films to have much of an opinion on whether this is a good choice or not. But one thing I am happy about is that Mera is going to be in the Justice League movie at all. That suggests the Sea King will have a significant role, so much so they have made room for his better half. It's a like a dream come true, Aqua-Fans!

DC Films: Dawn of Justice

Here's the Aquaman segment from tonight's DC Films: Dawn of Justice TV special that aired on the CW. We (sort of) get our first glimpse of Jason Momoa in action!

Aquaman in 2018

Via their convention showreel at this year's SDCC, Warner Bros. confirmed that the title of 2018's Aquaman will be just that: Aquaman. Not Aquaman: Age of Vulko, or Aquaman: The Wet World, just Aquaman. No additional marketing needed.

Here is Jason Momoa, walking the floor of the con in full costume!

James Wan To Direct AQUAMAN

Yesterday Variety confirmed that James Wan (The Conjuring, Fast and Furious 7) will indeed be directing 2018's Aquaman, as was rumored.

Variety's story also offered a very bare bones plot: "Aquaman, the King of the Seven Seas and the reluctant ruler of Atlantis, [is] caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, but is committed to protecting the entire globe."

I've only seen a couple of Wan's films, so I can't really say I feel one way or the other about this news. There were some other names in the running that I'm glad did not make the cut, so there's that. Plus, with Wan's last film making over one billion dollars worldwide, he pretty much could have picked any project he wanted. The fact that he chose Aquaman suggests (he says, hopefully), that Wan sees something in the character, the material, or both, that makes him think this will be a worthwhile movie.

Aquaman is scheduled for release in July 2018.

Unite The Seven: A Consideration

This image went live yesterday morning, just before I left for work so I really didn't have time to do anything other than post it. A number of people have asked me what I, aka the Shrine, think of it, so now that I've had some time here are a few random thoughts:

• Two hands, thank Neptune!

• All the promotional images that have been pushed out from WB in relation to BvS have been purposely drained of their color. Why I don't know, but people worrying that Aquaman will look like this in the movie should not be quite so concerned--unless Zack Snyder chooses to the shoot the whole movie in near black and white, rest assured Aquaman et al won't look quite this, er, washed out.

• At first glance, "Unite The Seven" seems to suggest the formation of the Justice League as a plot point. But F.O.A.M.er Travis Fowler proposed another idea which I think is just as, if not more, plausible--that the seven refers to the seven seas. After all, as far as we've heard, this film will feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg--that's six. Plus, this poster is aimed at the mass moviegoing public, not comic fans--the average moviegoer has no idea that the JLA mainly consists of seven iconic members, so the tagline is meaningless. Yet everyone has heard of the seven seas.

• Finally, about the overall look, since this of course is far from the Aquaman I grew up with and hoped we'd get (i.e., find some actor that looks like a Jim Aparo drawing). To me, what is really important is how they write the character--if the Aquaman seen in Batman v Superman is a powerful, brave hero, protector of all sea life, ruler of 3/4ths of the Earth, then that will be the Sea King I want to see. If they get that right, I won't care that he doesn't look like just like he does in the comics. If they don't get it right, and this live action Aquaman is just some big dumb Conan-type, then it won't matter what the hell he looks like anyway.

So even though us comic nerds are not good at this, we'll just have to wait and see.

Unite The Seven

...aaand here's our first official look at Jason Momoa as Aquaman from Batman v Superman, courtesy Zack Snyder's Twitter feed!

Karl Urban as Ocean Master?

Rumors are flying that Star Trek's Karl Urban will be playing Orm/Ocean Master in the 2018 Aquaman film. Here are the erstwhile undersea brothers posing together, it looks like they're getting along for now!

This same rumor mill is also saying that 300: Rise of an Empire director Noam Murro is being strongly considered for the director's chair, with Mud's Jeff Nichols still being mentioned as well.

Random Aquaman Movie Casting Choice

Jessica Chastain as Mera.


 

The Shrine posted the above on September 24, 2012--more than two years ago. So why are we bringing it back up again now? Well, check out this tweet from Ms. Chastain herself, yesterday:

Why the heck is Jessica Chastain even talking about the Aquaman movie? She has no connection to it that we've heard.

 

Unless...

 

 

Jason Momoa Wants Zack Snyder To Direct Aquaman Solo Movie

Aqua-Fans will be treated to four movies with Aquaman in them in the next decade. And if Jason Momoa had his way, Zack Snyder would direct Aquaman. Read more!

Aquaman: July 27, 2018

With Marvel Phase 3 all the rage today, the Shrine thought the 2018 Aquaman movie deserved a similar logo treatment, at least until Warner Bros. sees fit to provide us all with the real deal!

"According to The Aquaman Shrine..."

Always fun when the Shrine gets quoted like we're an actual news outlet!


(via Shrine Correspondent Darrin Sutherland)

So It's Official Then: AQUAMAN in 2018

It's a good--great--time to be an Aquaman fan, and it will continue to be for the the next four years.

Aquaman The Movie

Well, this kinda seems like big news.