So, it comes to an end. The DCEU, also known as the SnyderVerse after its first director, started with Man Of Steel and now comes to an end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. A movie that has been, effectively, quietly disowned by Warner Bros.
There is no red-carpet premiere for this final SnyderVerse chapter. No afterparty. No huge junket. Just a small pre-reception and “fan screening” for James Wan’s film.
The reviews aren’t good, the box-office projections are soft, and Warner Bros. is just acting like it wants the whole thing to be over. Afterall, the DCEU is the scene of some of their greatest failures, and they were completely embarrassed by Zack Snyder’s own cut of Justice League. And just like that, the DCEU will imply become a movie non-person, something they don’t talk about in polite company over at Burbank. All that wasted potential, now quietly killed off.
Even Mr. Positivity himself, star Jason Momoa gave a downbeat feeling interview with Entertainment Tonight where he sounded resigned to the end of the ride.
In what feels like a damage limitation exercise, DC Studios co-chief and Aquaman producer Peter Safran had an interview with The Independent where he said:
“If it’s the end of the journey, fine. If it goes on, that’s also fine. When I think of Jason in this role, he is the definitive Aquaman. He’s redefined it.
Its been an 11 or 12 year journey for him – a lot of the audience doesn’t realize that he was cast so long ago. It’s kind of redefined him. When he took this role he was known as Khal Drogo, and now he’s really Aquaman.
What I hope is that people will really be here to support him on this journey. If it’s the end of the journey, fine. If it goes on, that’s also fine, but I think it has meant so much to him.
The way [director] James [Wan] crafted this second film, it feels like a very complete story when you watch the two films together. We’ll see what happens with him beyond it. I know that Jason will always have a home at DC, and at Warner Bros. In fact, his next movie is ‘Minecraft.’”
Safran and James Gunn are leading the replacement DC Universe which kicks off with the animated series Creature Commandos and then Gunn-directed live-action Superman: Legacy. Creature Commandos hits TV late next year, and Legacy arrives in the summer 2025.
Check back every day for movie news and reviews at the Last Movie Outpost
