The DCEU might be drawing to a close, but we’ve still got the Aquaman 2 UK release date to look forward to at the end of 2023. We’ve previously covered Barry Allan’s time traveling multiverse extravaganza, and The Rock’s singularity entry to the Extended Universe, so here’s everything you need to know about Aquaman 2 (AKA Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom), including the latest on the age rating in our parents guide notes below, along with the plot, cast and our runtime estimate.
Plot
The trailer is in and you can check it out below, but the story for Aquaman 2 picks up a few years after the events of the first film. Arthur Curry is a dad now, as well as being the king of Atlantis, so he’s got a lot to juggle, but Black Manta has been building himself up for a second run at destruction and he’s returning with furious vengeance for the sequel.
AdvertisementThis stems from the mid-credits scene from Aquaman, which saw Dr. Stephen Shin rescuing David Kane / Black Manta. In the comics, Shin is a obsessed with finding the Lost City of Atlantis, so it makes sense that the plot for the 2nd film is linked to this story arc.
We were also expecting a resurgent Orm, but the trailer has confirmed that it’s not going to be quite as antagonistic as you might think.
Cast
In addition to Jason Momoa (Dune) returning as Aquaman, the Lost Kingdom cast will also include Amber Heard (Justice League) as Mera, Willem Defoe (Spider-Man No Way Home) as Nuidis Vulko, Yaya Abdul-Manteen II (The Matrix Resurrections) as David Kane / Black Manta, Patrick Wilson (Moonfall) as Orm and Randall Park (WandaVision) as Dr. Stephen Shin. We should also have Nicole Kidman (Paddington, BMX Bandits) back as Atlanna, along with Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) as Arthur’s lighthouse keeper dad, Thomas.
AdvertisementIt’s just wild speculation at the moment, but it definitely makes sense for the Aquaman II cast to include another member of the Justice League. If you’re familiar with the comics then you’ll know that Cyborg is probably the strongest contender for this and with no solo film it makes sense. However, the controversy surrounding the Joss Whedon re-shoots for Justice League and subsequently Ray Fischer’s fallout with DC Films president Walter Hamada will probably be the biggest stumbling block.
It would be great to see Fischer welcomed back to the DCEU a little more forthrightly, so a cast inclusion in Aquaman 2 would be a positive step to heal the whole thing. If something doesn’t happen soon enough then the future Extended Universe slate will continue to be tainted by it.
Aquaman 2 UK release date
AdvertisementThe Aquaman 2 UK release date is currently scheduled for the 16th December 2022, which is the same date as it is due to come out in North America. With The Flash due to arrive on the big screen on the 4th November 2022, it looks like it’s going to be a packed winter for the DCEU, but then a lot can change between now and then with the current climate of uncertainty.
As things stand, the big competition for Aquaman 2 is Avatar 2, which is due out on the same date. It’s going to be interesting to see how to the two films stack up against each other at the box office with the first blue alien flick still standing as the highest grossing movie of all time and Arthur Curry’s opening hit being the best performing DCEU film to-date.
With the film due out in December, we should then get a DVD, Blu-ray and digital release date for March 2023. However, we’ll update things here as they get confirmed or as new information becomes available.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to see news and updates on upcoming film releases. You can also see more on Aquaman 2 in the build-up to the release with the Warner Bros Twitter page at https://twitter.com/WarnerBrosUK.
Age rating and parents guide
The official UK age rating for Aquaman 2 will be announced by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) as we get closer to the release date, but there’s a lot to take from the first film and other recent DCEU movies. Aquaman had 12 certificate in the UK and PG-13 rating in the US, so it seems likely that the sequel will follow suit, similar to Wonder Woman and 1984.
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With that in mind, the parents guide notes should include moderate violence that you would expect from a superhero movie, along with threat and a whole lot of underwater action (fighting and swimming, not the romantic kind). Mild language is another thing to consider if you track things from the perspective of the first film.
AdvertisementHowever, it’s worth noting that there have been a number of DC films in recent years that have gone on to pick up a 15 certification in the UK with the likes of Justice League, Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad all getting the higher age rating. It’s less likely for Aquaman 2 though with the success of the first film and a likelihood of Warner Bros. and DC Films not wanting to rock the boat too much.
We’ll update you with more details on the film as they get confirmed. You can also check out our movie news section to keep tabs on the latest upcoming films, or visit the Warner Bros website at https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/.
Runtime
As with the age rating, the runtime for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be confirmed when the release date is approaching, but again there’s plenty to go on from previous films. It was a little over the 2 hour mark and that seems like a good indicator for the 2nd film. Wonder Woman 1984 came in with a similar runtime, so there’s a lot to point in this direction.
