Warner Brothers’ refusal to acknowledge an Aquaman standalone movie persists while reports from within Hollywood circles continue to prove otherwise. The latest leak suggests that the studio has hired a pair of writers to provide their own take on how the King of Atlantis will transition to the big screen.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has tapped studio stalwarts Will Beall (Gangster Squad) and Kurt Johnstad (300, 300: Rise of an Empire) to go their separate ways and pen versions of an Aquaman screenplay. As is not unusual in Hollywood, the studio will select the one they like better and move forward with that idea.
Johnstad would seem to have the inside track considering his close work with Zack Snyder on the 300 franchise, and Snyder serving as the director and overseeing of DC’s cinematic universe.
Aquaman has long been rumored to be joining Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) as members of the Justice League and subsequent confirmed film of the same name. Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) has long been attached to the role, but both he and Warner Bros. continue to sidestep confirming or denying his involvement.
Warner Bros. has scheduled a total of nine untitled DC Comics movies to debut between 2016 and 2020. Aquaman could theoretically cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League before setting off on a solo adventure, potentially against his arch-nemesis Black Manta.
Ironically — or not — the subject of Aquaman came up on a Detroit, Michigan radio talk show last week and the character was widely panned by the hosts. Snyder, who was on his way to the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice set, was listening in and ultimately phoned in to defend the watery hero, claiming he would be extremely powerful once rising from the ocean depths, armed with a trident that could cut Superman.
