Warner Bros. has started work on the Aquaman sequel – hiring David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick to write the script.
The film, based on the DC comics character and starring Jason Momoa as the title character, with Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, and Nicole Kidman in supporting roles, was directed by James Wan, and became a huge hit for the movie studio.
It took $68.7 million in its opening weekend in North America, and sailed past $1 billion worldwide. And according to editors at The Hollywood Reporter Johnson-McGoldrick, who co-wrote the Aquaman script with Will Beall, has been given the go ahead to start work on the sequel.
Johnson-McGoldrick, who worked with director Wan on The Conjuring 2, first began working on the script for the original movie three years ago after reading the Aquaman comic books during filming for the horror.
In an interview with website Moviehole in December he explained writing the DC Comics franchise was a lot of fun.
“It was a little like getting to go play and I felt like the challenges that were faced were harder for Zach Snyder for Justice League — because he was the one who had to figure out who Aquaman was, he told the website. “Zach cast Jason (Momoa) which completely shattered people’s perceptions and we were able to steer Jason back to the classic Aquaman. I don’t think you could’ve shown him in a suit right out of the gate. He had to show Aquaman was cool.”
At present it’s unclear whether Wan will return to direct the sequel, but he is said to be in talks to return as producer.
The news of Johnson-McGoldrick’s hiring comes after Warner Bros. announced that it is developing a spinoff around Aquaman villain The Trench. Wan and Safran are reportedly set to produce the flick, which is being developed as a lower budget version of Aquaman. However, none of the main cast is set to be involved.