Jason Momoa says future as Aquaman is ‘not looking too good’

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Jason Momoa loves playing Aquaman, but as Zack Snyder’s DC Universe comes to a close this week with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom he admits that his future as the underwater hero may be at an end.

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“I don’t necessarily want it to be the end … (but) I don’t think it’s really, like, a choice,” Momoa told Entertainment Tonight in an interview, adding that new studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran want “to start their own new thing up.”

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“The truth of it is, I mean, if the audience loves it, then there’s a possibility,” Momoa said. “But right now, I’m like, ‘It’s not looking too good.’”

Momoa maintained that he still thinks there are “cool things” DC can do with the character on the big screen.

“I love this character and (I would want to) play it for a long time. I kind of see where I would want it to go. And even in the next 10 years or so, like there’s a lot of cool things they can do. And I do enjoy the role and the world. So, I mean, it just comes down to if people love it,” he said.

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Momoa first appeared as Aquaman with a brief cameo in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and reprised the role in 2017’s Justice League. The following year, he lead his own movie, which was a smash hit, earning over $1 billion at the global box office.

But after it failed to compete with Marvel’s ambitious movie slate, Warner Bros. decided last year it will reboot its DC cinematic universe with a new blueprint that will be overseen by Gunn and Safran.

In a message to fans earlier this year, Gunn said the first chapter in the DC Universe will be called Gods and Monsters and will kick off in July 2025 with Superman: Legacy.

Previous star Henry Cavill, who returned for a brief cameo as the Man of Steel in last year’s Black Adam movie, was unceremoniously dropped in favour of David Cornswet, who was hired in June.

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While a new Batman film from director Matt Reeves and actor Robert Pattinson is in the works and is slated to hit theatres in 2025, Gunn and Safran have their own Batman movie planned, The Brave and the Bold, which will serve as the Dark Knight’s introduction to their new DC universe. Reeves’ Batman projects and Todd Phillips’ Joker films will take place in their own separate timelines and be labelled as “DC Elseworlds.”

Also in the works is a Supergirl movie; a Green Lantern mystery series that Gunn described as being “almost like True Detective;” a Wonder Woman prequel series; a big-screen adaptation of The Authority, which revolves around Wildstorm superheroes “who think the world is broken and want to fix it by any means necessary;” and a show that will centre on Booster Gold, who is one of “comics’ most popular cult heroes.”

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Committing to a diverse slate of titles, Gunn also announced a “very dark horror” feature based off of the Swamp Thing comics will feed into the rest of the stories.

But following the pair’s announcement, several of DC’s existing cinematic superheroes tied to the Snyder era still had films to be released, including Shazam!, Flash, Blue Beetle and Aquaman. The first three bombed at the box office likely spelling the end for their characters. Whether Momoa’s legendary King of Atlantis can stay afloat as part of Gunn and Safran’s future plans remains to be seen.

Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman, teased she was still continuing on as the heroine. But insiders cast doubt on Gadot’s claims telling Variety that “nothing was ever promised to Gadot regarding Wonder Woman 3, nor was there any definitive discussion of Gadot’s Wonder Woman continuing with the new DC Universe.”

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Meanwhile, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been beset by rumours of a troubled production with a number of reshoots required. Cameos from Ben Affleck (who was set to return as Batman) and Michael Keaton (also Batman) have also reportedly been shelved.

In October, Variety published claims that Momoa was drunk on set during filming. Notes from Amber Heard’s therapist, which came out during her defamation trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, hinted at a toxic work environment.

“Jason said he wanted me fired,” the notes allegedly said. “Jason drunk — late on set. Dressing like Johnny. Has all the rings too.”

People close to Momoa pushed back, telling the trade publication: “Jason works his ass off, likes to have a beer once in a while like everyone, but doesn’t show up drunk to set.”

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Director James Wan also refuted Heard’s claims, calling it “noise.”

At the film’s Los Angeles premiere this week, Wan praised his star. “I had so much fun making this movie,” he said. “Years from now, decades from now … they’re going to be many Aquamen, but everyone’s going to look back to your Aquaman. That’s the one everyone is going to be gauging it from. You will always be my Aquaman.”

Last year, Momoa was enthused for the sequel telling Postmedia that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was a superhero spin on an ’80s style buddy action comedy.

“It’s funny. It’s very, very funny. James and I have found our rhythm and tapped into the things people really liked (about the first one),” he said. “The technology itself has gone to another level since we shot the first one so, obviously, there’s amazing action. But the best thing, for me, is how funny it is. Patrick Wilson is amazing and we have a really good time. It was absolutely a fun journey.”

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Onstage in Los Angeles this week, Momoa looked at Wan and said, “This might be the last time we’re up on a stage together.”

With Aquaman’s future still a question mark, rumours have swirled that Momoa might be playing a different superhero, Lobo, in the new DC Universe. Momoa has teased “there might be other characters” he can play in Gunn and Safran’s new slate.

“If there’s a place in their world for me, I would love to be a part of it,” Momoa said. “This is my home. Warner and DC is definitely my home. So, that’s all I’ll say.”

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X: @markhdaniell

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