We’re sorry, Aquaman fans, but the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster is still a long way off…
The follow-up to the origin story starring Jason Momoa as the titular character was meant to hit screens next March, but issues at Warner Bros. has pushed back the release date. As a result, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will only be released on December 25, 2023.
Another film feeling the effects of the studio restructuring is the Shazam! sequel. Shazam! Fury of the Gods was initially set to premiere this December, but will instead come out on March 17, 2023—Aquaman’s original date.
The moves follow the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc in April this year. The head of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group stepped down in May, leading to DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group all receiving their own leadership. Warner Bros. Discovery has been looking to spread out the marketing and distribution costs associated with releasing a studio tentpole, resulting in Aquaman and Shazam! being shuffled on the calendar.
Although the delay is disappointing, fans of both franchises can breathe a sigh of relief that the movies didn’t suffer the same fate as Batgirl which was totally shelved, despite being complete and costing $90 million to produce.
