Jason Momoa is no longer feeling too optimistic about playing Aquaman in the future. The actor is reprising his superhero role in Warner Bros.’ upcoming “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” which might be Momoa’s swan song as the character on the big screen. Momoa was cast as Aquaman in Zack Snyder’s DC Universe, playing the character in “Justice League” and “Aquaman,” but the DC Universe is now being rebooted by new DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran.
“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 about his future as Aquaman.
Momoa noted that Gunn and Safran want “to start their own new thing up,” adding: “The truth of it is, I mean, if the audience loves [‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’], then there’s a possibility. But right now, I’m like, ‘It’s not looking too good.’”
“I love this character and [I would want to] play it for a long time,” Momoa continued. “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.”
Momoa confirmed to Variety at the Sundance Film Festival in January that he met with Gunn and Safran soon after they took over DC Studios in 2022. Rumors have circulated that Momoa might be ditching Aquaman and playing a different superhero, Lobo, in the new DC Universe. Momoa would not confirm anything at the time, but he did tease “there might be other characters” coming from him down the line at DC.
The majority of actors who led Snyder’s DC Universe alongside Momoa have been dropped, which is one reason Momoa might be thinking his Aquaman future doesn’t look too good. Henry Cavill’s tenure as Superman is over, as Gunn is relaunching his DC Universe with a new Superman movie featuring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. Gunn and Safran are also not developing a “Wonder Woman 3,” likely ending Gal Gadot’s time wielding the Lasso of Truth. Momoa’s Aquaman was not included in the first round of new DC Universe titles that Gunn and Safran revealed in January.
Back in March, Momoa appeared more optimistic about his Aquaman future when he told Total Film magazine: “I absolutely think Aquaman will be involved in the DCU. It’s on, bro – there’s no one bigger than Aquaman! But, also, I hope people are excited to see the new one. It’s fun. I really enjoy doing comedy. There’s some really funny stuff with Patrick Wilson. I really adore him. We had a great time working together. It’s like we’re brothers. There’s a lot of cool stuff happening in this one.”
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is opening in theaters nationwide on Dec. 22 from Warner Bros.