Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is funnier than its box-office hit predecessor, say Jason Momoa and director James Wan

Director James Wan has always planned for the “Aquaman” sequel to have a bit more comedy. 

In an interview with “Empire” magazine, Wan said, “From the start, I pitched that the first film would be a ‘Romancing the Stone’-type thing – an action-adventure romantic comedy,” he said, “while the second would be an outright buddy comedy.” Some inspirations he had were “Tango & Cash,” a 1989 buddy cop comedy starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell, and 1997’s “Men in Black,” starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. 

In “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” sequel to the box office smash “Aquaman,” DC’s highest worldwide grossing film of all time, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), having failed to defeat Aquaman (Jason Momoa) the first time and still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction. 

Director James Wan was thrilled to return to the family of “Aquaman” for the sequel “The Lost Kingdom”

 For director James Wan, one of the highlights of helming the follow-up to the box office smash “Aquaman,” DC’s highest worldwide grossing film of all time, was getting back to work with the creatives, cast and crew that helped make the first film such a success. 

Says Wan, “I was thrilled to return to the family of “Aquaman,” the cast who made these characters so memorable and compelling – Jason [Momoa], Patrick [Wilson], Amber [Heard], Yahya [Abdul-Mateen II] and Nicole [Kidman], alongside our full ensemble – and the creative team who helped build such a striking, unforgettable world. But now, the stakes are much higher and that world is much larger.”

Director James Wan’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is “worldbuilding and visual storytelling at its zenith,” says producer

“Aquaman” director James Wan promises that for the superhero movie’s sequel “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “Atlantis is even bigger, brighter, more colorful, more vibrant.”

But as exciting as it is to go back to Atlantis, movie audiences can look forward to seeing entirely new places, including the Lost Kingdom. In the first film, it was revealed that there were seven Kingdoms of Atlantis: Atlantis, Xebel, Kingdom of the Fishermen, Kingdom of the Trench, Kingdom of the Brine, Kingdom of the Deserters… and the Lost Kingdom: Necrus. 

To create Necrus, Wan was inspired by Antarctica. “Antarctica felt like an inspiring landscape that is familiar,” says Wan, “but it’s also a place most of us have not visited, and that would allow me to explore a heightened version of it. I was excited to create this kingdom, which is a completely new visual element in this film, along with other new worlds. And I have to say, it wouldn’t be one of my films without some of my signature creations, so there are new, dark creatures for audiences to enjoy.”