“It would have sold hundreds of dollars of worth tickets”: WB Hated the Most Depressing Aquaman Script Before Jason Momoa’s Billion Dollar Hit Movie
The story behind DC’s Aquaman is no exception to the rule that the transition from screenplay to screen can be a complete emotional rollercoaster. Before Jason Momoa was cast to give his billion-dollar portrayal of the aquatic superhero, Warner Bros. faced a big challenge with the movie’s script, it was one that the studio wasn’t initially very fond of.
Regardless, the Aquaman movie defied early skepticism to become a smash hit, but as the unoriginal goes – success frequently comes when you least expect it. From there came the fascinating story of how this superhero storyline generated excitement at the Warner Bros. studios.
Aquaman Movie’s Epic Journey From Script Skepticism to Billion-Dollar Seas
The path from screenplay to screen for the Aquaman movie was rocky. Initially, Warner Bros. didn’t like the movie’s earlier, darker draft pitched by Mud director Jeff Nichols, thus ignoring the original script. With a different storyline and Jason Momoa‘s captivating performance as the aquatic superhero, the film not only managed to redeem itself but also became a huge box office hit, making over a billion dollars worldwide. In an episode of Josh Horowitz’s podcast, Happy Sad Confused, Nichols shared the story of his initially failed proposal to Warner Bros. for an Aquaman film. Although his description of the figure was limited, it had enough information to depict an Aquaman with the same outlook as that of an old man. He said:
“I still have scenes from [Aquaman] in my head that would’ve been good, They would’ve been quite different from the film that was made. It wasn’t ever feasible. […] I liked the older Aquaman, like when he had a harpoon for a hand. He was a fallen king and his son had died. He was in mourning. Obviously, from this brief pitch, you can see it would’ve sold hundreds of dollars’ worth of tickets.”
Regardless, the success of Aquaman opened the door for a sequel, this time under James Wan‘s direction. For the second part, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the official description teases an interesting plot in which Momoa’s character forges an unusual partnership to save the Earth and Atlantis. And while the story may change once James Gunn takes over the franchise, this installment is still a part of the DCEU.
Jason Momoa From Game of Thrones to Aquaman Stardom
Early TV roles paved the way for Jason Momoa’s career in movies, but it was his depiction of Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones that catapulted him to prominence. His acting talent was on full display in this rough and tough warrior character, which attracted a loyal fan base. However, in 2018, Aquaman marked his commercial breakthrough as he brought the legendary DC character Arthur Curry to life, making the movie a billion-dollar box office smash.
Momoa’s rugged and charismatic Aquaman became a standout in the DC Extended Universe, earning him global recognition. And now, once again, his work in James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might expand his already massive fanbase, as viewers are quite excited to witness Aquaman once again on the silver screen with a new story and riveting experience. Considering how James Wan is an acclaimed director known for horror and thriller genres like The Conjuring and Fast & Furious 7, fans are expecting nothing less than another box office mega success.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom releases in theaters on Dec. 20.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
