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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a 2023 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. It is the sequel to Aquaman (2018) and the 15th and final film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, and stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short, and Nicole Kidman. In the film, Arthur must work with his half-brother Orm (Wilson) to prevent Black Manta (Abdul-Mateen II) from killing his family and using the cursed Black Trident to overheat the world while searching for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas.

Momoa pitched a story for an Aquaman sequel during production of the first film. Wan did not want to rush a sequel but agreed in January 2019 to oversee development. Johnson-McGoldrick signed on to return as screenwriter a month later, and Wan was confirmed to be returning as director in August 2020. He said the film would expand on Aquaman's worldbuilding, have a more serious tone, and feature themes such as climate change. It is a buddy comedy between Aquaman and Orm, and was inspired by the Silver Age of Comic Books with a retro science fiction vibe similar to the works of animator Ray Harryhausen and the horror films of the 1960s, specifically Planet of the Vampires (1965). Wan announced the sequel's title in June 2021, ahead of the start of filming at the end of the month. Filming concluded in January 2022, taking place in the United Kingdom, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, with additional filming in New Zealand.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom premiered at a fan event at the Grove, Los Angeles on December 19, 2023, and was released in the United States on December 22. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, but was a commercial success, grossing $401 million worldwide.

Plot[]

Four years after becoming king of Atlantis, Arthur Curry has married Mera and had a son, Arthur Jr., while splitting his life between land and sea. He is contacted by Dr. Stephen Shin, a marine biologist who claims to have found a clue to the location of the seventh kingdom of Atlantis, a mythical realm that was lost during the ancient war between the Atlanteans and the surface dwellers. Arthur agrees to meet Shin, but is ambushed by Black Manta, who has allied himself with a mysterious benefactor. Black Manta reveals that he has acquired the Black Trident, a powerful weapon that belonged to the king of the seventh kingdom, and uses it to attack Arthur and Shin. Arthur manages to escape with Shin, but learns that Black Manta has kidnapped his son and taken him to the seventh kingdom.

Arthur decides to seek help from his half-brother Orm, who is imprisoned in Atlantis for his crimes in the previous film. Orm initially refuses to cooperate, but changes his mind when he learns that Black Manta has his nephew. He tells Arthur that the Black Trident is cursed, and that whoever wields it will be corrupted by its dark power and unleash a cataclysmic event that will destroy the world. He also reveals that the seventh kingdom is a necropolis, where the dead are reanimated by a sinister force. He agrees to help Arthur find the seventh kingdom, but warns him that they will face many dangers along the way.

Arthur and Orm embark on a perilous journey across the oceans, encountering various creatures and civilizations, some friendly and some hostile. They also bond over their shared heritage and experiences, and begin to understand each other better. Meanwhile, Black Manta arrives at the seventh kingdom, where he meets his benefactor, who is revealed to be Kordax, the first and most evil king of Atlantis. Kordax explains that he was banished to the seventh kingdom by his brother Atlan, the first wielder of the Trident of Atlantis, for trying to conquer the surface world. He says that he has been waiting for someone to bring him the Black Trident, which he forged from the blood of his enemies, and that he plans to use it to raise an army of the undead and take revenge on the living. He also reveals that he has brainwashed Arthur Jr. with his power, and intends to make him his heir.

Arthur and Orm arrive at the seventh kingdom, where they are attacked by Kordax and his minions. They manage to fight their way to Kordax's throne room, where they confront him and Black Manta. Arthur tries to free his son from Kordax's influence, but fails. He then engages in a fierce battle with Kordax, while Orm fights Black Manta. During the fight, Kordax activates the Black Trident's ultimate function, which causes the ocean's temperature to rise rapidly, threatening to boil the planet. Arthur realizes that the only way to stop Kordax is to destroy the Black Trident, but he is overpowered by Kordax and his son. Orm manages to defeat Black Manta and joins Arthur, telling him that he is proud to call him his brother. He then sacrifices himself by stabbing the Black Trident with his own trident, causing it to explode and kill Kordax and himself. The explosion also frees Arthur Jr. from Kordax's control, and he reunites with his father.

Arthur and his son return to Atlantis, where they are greeted by Mera, Atlanna, and the other Atlanteans. Arthur mourns Orm's death, but also honors his memory as a hero. He then resumes his duties as king, and vows to protect both the sea and the land from any threat.

Cast[]

  • Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman: The half-Atlantean/half-human king of Atlantis, who possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, and the ability to manipulate water and communicate with marine life. He is also the wielder of the Trident of Atlantis, a powerful artifact that grants him control over the oceans.
  • Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius / Ocean Master: Arthur's Atlantean half-brother and former king of Atlantis, who was imprisoned for attempting to wage war on the surface world. He reluctantly helps Arthur to stop Black Manta and Kordax, and develops a bond with him.
  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane / Black Manta: A ruthless mercenary and pirate, who seeks revenge on Aquaman for killing his father. He obtains the Black Trident, a cursed weapon that grants him enhanced abilities and a connection to Kordax.
  • Amber Heard as Mera: An Atlantean warrior and princess of the Xebel tribe, who is Arthur's wife and the queen of Atlantis. She has the ability to manipulate water and create hard water constructs.
  • Nicole Kidman as Atlanna: The former queen of Atlantis and the mother of Arthur and Orm. She was presumed dead after being sacrificed to the Trench, but was later revealed to be alive and living in the hidden sea.
  • Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin: A marine biologist and friend of Arthur, who helps him to find clues about the seventh kingdom of Atlantis.
  • Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry: Arthur's human father and a lighthouse keeper, who raised him on land.
  • Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus: The king of the Xebel tribe and Mera's father, who is an ally of Arthur.
  • Martin Short as Kingfish: The king of the Fishermen, a tribe of Atlanteans who have evolved into fish-like beings. He is an ally of Arthur and provides him with information and assistance.
  • Jani Zhao as Stingray: A member of the Fishermen tribe and Kingfish's daughter, who has a crush on Arthur.
  • Pilou Asbæk as Kordax: The first and most evil king of Atlantis, who was banished to the seventh kingdom for trying to conquer the surface world. He is the original owner of the Black Trident, and the main antagonist of the film.
  • Indya Moore as Karshon: The king of the Sharkmen, a tribe of Atlanteans who have evolved into shark-like beings. He is an enemy of Arthur and allies himself with Kordax.
  • John Rhys-Davies as the Brine King: The king of the Brine, a tribe of Atlanteans who have evolved into crustacean-like beings. He is an enemy of Arthur and allies himself with Kordax.
  • Vincent Regan as Atlan: The first wielder of the Trident of Atlantis and the ancestor of Arthur and Orm. He banished his brother Kordax to the seventh kingdom and hid the trident in the hidden sea.
  • Jay McDonald as Ocean Freighter Captain: A human captain of a cargo ship, who is attacked by Black Manta and his men.
  • Tyler Burger and Maddox Cruz-Porter as Arthur Curry Jr.: Arthur and Mera's son, who is kidnapped by Black Manta and brainwashed by Kordax.
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