Disaster Strikes Aquaman 2 as Viewers Walk Out in Masses Despite James Wan Relegating Amber Heard to Minor Role
When DCEU introduced its new superhero in 2018, they didn’t expect the overwhelming success that Aquaman would bring at the box office. The film not only beat expectations but also became one of DC’s highest-grossing movies.
The Atlantis King has quickly won the hearts of audiences through its compelling storyline and its stunning visual experience. Aquaman is regarded as one of the most visually striking entries from the DC Cinematic Universe. Though the most anticipated sequel is on the way is encountering controversy, and it has recently been known that people are allegedly leaving early during its screenings.
The controversial Aquababy scene stirs reaction in Aquaman sequel
With a strong foundation established by Aquaman, fans are wondering whether Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will live up to the expectations of its predecessor. However, in the months before its release, the movie has found itself in a swirl of rumors and criticism. Recently, it was seen that viewers were reportedly moving out of theaters during the early screening.
It is assumed that the scene from Aquababy must be the possible reason for this recent screen reaction. In the context of the film, the newborn son of Arthur Curry and Mera, known as the “Aquababy,” is said to be killed. According to the tweet posted by Grace Randolph, in @MyTimetoShineHello, confirmed the claim that viewers were disturbed by a scene depicting the death of the Aquababy, which made them out in the midst of the screening.
As of now, these remain as unclarified rumors, though it has been reported that the movie has undergone significant adjustments due to its unfavorable test screening feedback.
That is correct https://t.co/iGHVo40cN1
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) September 16, 2023
The fate of the baby in the final version of the movie is unknown, regardless of whether the crew scrapped it due to the range of harsh reactions. On the other hand, there is a high chance of resurfacing the rumored scene in the movie, as the director, James Wan, wants to stick with the comic-book approach. In the comics, the character Black Manta kills the Aquababay, which is a significant tragic event in Aquaman’s storyline.
Aquaman sequel trims Amber Heard’s screen time
Although the official trailer confirms the appearance of Aquababy in the sequel, it barely contains Amber Heard. Heard, who played the role of Mera, Jason Momoa’s love interest. In 2022, during the defamation trial, Heard claimed that she had only given a “pared-down version” of her role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
“I fought really hard to stay in the movie; they didn’t want to include me in the film. I was given a script and then given new versions of the script that took away scenes that had action in them that depicted my character and another character”.
Without revealing specific details, it she mentioned that her role in several scenes was allegedly redacted. However, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, James Wan said the movie will give more focus to the Atlantis brothers, who team up to face off against the Ocean Master. He clarified that the second film will probably dwell more on Arthur’s relationship with Orm than Arthur and Mera.
“The first was a romance action-adventure movie; the second one is a bromance action-adventure movie. We’ll leave it at that.
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Under the spearhead of James Wan, the movie is directed based on the screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry leads the titular role. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also features Patrick Wilson as Orm, Amber Heard as Mera, and Black Manta, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; Dolph Lundgren as Nereus; Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry; and Atlanna, portrayed by Nicole Kidman.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will hit theaters on December 20th.
Source: @MyTimetoShineHello and Entertainment Weekly
