How does the movie itself end Arthur Curry’s journey, even though Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom formally ends the DCEU? For those who are not familiar with the history of the franchise, Aquaman 2 provides a peculiar sense of self-containment by recapping previous DCEU film events.
This is probably due to the fact that Aquaman 2 was reshot so that it would not conflict with James Gunn’s next DCU feature and television series.
Even though there were a lot of reshoots, the movie nonetheless ends Arthur Curry’s time in the DCEU before Gunn’s relaunched franchise begins in 2024. In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the protagonist fights Black Manta, a villain from the first film who comes back to exact revenge on Arthur Curry.
The battle against Manta has reached a crescendo by the time of Aquaman 2’s post-credit scene. Many will start to question how the film’s own conclusion wraps together the characters, narratives, and emotional journeys of Jason Momoa’s superhero series, as the DCEU officially concludes with the story of Aquaman 2.
An Explanation of the Curse of the Lost Kingdom and the Black Trident
Black Manta’s efforts to unearth the titular civilization form the basis of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Manta’s voyage starts at the start of the movie when the character discovers the menacing Black Trident. The ghost of King Kordax, King Atlan’s brother, is kept in the Trident.
If Black Manta locates the Lost Kingdom of Necrus and breaks the curse that King Atlan has placed on it, Kordax promises him retribution against Aquaman. After Kordax lost the conflict with his brother, Atlan cursed the whole Necrus civilization to be buried under the Antarctic ice caps, encased in ice.
The answer to the question of how Black Manta intended to lift the curse on Necrus and King Kordax is found in Atlantis’ royal lineage. Atlan first applied the curse by imprisoning Kordax and Necrus using blood magic. Therefore, only a member of Atlan’s family—Atlanna, Arthur, Orm, or Arthur Jr.—could break it.
In order to free Kordax and Necrus, Manta intended to abduct Arthur Jr. and sacrifice the infant. In addition to carrying out Manta’s scheme to murder Aquaman’s family, this would provide him with the army he needs to permanently vanquish Atlantis and his adversary.
After Arthur saves his son in the conclusion of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, he and Black Manta fight. Aquaman defeats Manta before Orm is taken over by Kordax’s spirit. Kordax is released from his prison when Orm defeats Arthur and spills his blood on the altar.
But Arthur stops Kordax’s evil schemes once and for all when he throws the Black Trident and King Atlan’s trident at the villain.
Black Manta: Is He Dead?
Black Manta is drawn into an opening beneath the ice in the pandemonium that follows Kordax’s loss and Necrus’ devastation. Before Arthur extends his hand to save his life, he hangs on. Black Manta declines to hold Aquaman’s hand and plunges into the gap that seems to be drawing Necrus indefinitely.
It is highly unlikely that Black Manta survived the fall because he had lost the extraordinary abilities that the Black Trident had bestowed upon him. Although Aquaman 2’s conclusion does not prove his demise, it also gives no indication that the character lived, signaling the DCEU’s final chapter for the legendary comic book adversary.
The scene where Manta appears to die by falling begs the question of why he chose not to hold Aquaman’s hand. This is because of the first Aquaman film, which is when Manta’s animosity toward Arthur first began.
Arthur assaults a boat that Black Manta and his father’s band of pirates are operating in the first movie. After he vanquishes the pirates, the sea will judge Manta’s father.
Black Manta’s father spends Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom resolutely committed to his son’s commitment to murder Aquaman as he passes away. At the end of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Manta refuses to shake Arthur’s hand because of his contempt for him.
The character allows the devastation of Necrus to claim him, preferring to die than take the hand of the man who killed his father.
The Significance Of Aquaman 2’s Ending For The DCEU And DCU
The answer is still incredibly ambiguous regarding the implications of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s conclusion for the DCEU’s and the future DCU’s standing. The lack of clarity surrounding the franchise’s transfer into the DCU has been one of the main problems with the 2023 DCEU movies.
Given that a number of significant Justice League characters are portrayed by the same DCEU actors as the film’s conclusions, this is made much more confused by The Flash and Aquaman 2.
The more straightforward response, though, is probably that neither franchise will be impacted in the slightest by Aquaman 2’s conclusion. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom marked the end of the DCEU franchise.
Since it has already been revealed that all of the DCEU Justice League members would be recast in Gunn’s DCU, Aquaman’s future narrative will be completely different. This implies that until Jason Momoa’s version of the character appears in Gunn and Peter Safran’s universe—which is extremely unlikely—the conclusion of Aquaman 2 will not affect the future of the DCU.
Why Audiences Were Split on Aquaman 2’s Ending?
After the franchise ran for more than ten years, several critics criticized Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s conclusion, calling it an unimpressive conclusion for the DCEU.
This is probably also partly because rumors of Aquaman 2’s changes surfaced during the movie’s production, which could have led some potential viewers to believe the final DCEU film was being changed to fit its position as the end of this specific era rather than ending on a note that was largely disconnected from the rest of the series.
Want to learn more about the Lost Kingdom and Aquaman? Check out the film’s ending in further detail and how it affects the DCEU. For in-depth coverage and professional comments on the closure of this legendary franchise, visit our website for the most recent analysis, updates, and movie breakdowns. Don’t pass this up!
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