Exploring the Dark Depths of the Aquaman Universe

The 2018 smash hit, Aquaman is finally getting its long awaited sequel this December. Which is of course, coming in a whopping 5 years later. But as many already know, excitement for this sequel would be hard-pressed to come by as DC cinematic landscape will see a noticeable reboot once this movie releases.

Moreover, the behind the scenes controversies surrounding Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom have mostly been negative. So to say the sequel is coming at a bad time would be a huge understatement.

What makes all this especially regrettable is the fact that 2018’s Aquaman was such a comeback for DC and Warner Bros. after the disastrous attempt that was 2017’s Justice League.

Till this day, Aquaman remains the DCEU’s highest grossing film at 1.152 Billion USD (per box office mojo). With the indication then, hinting at more lightheartedness in DC cinematic future.

While the dark-centric approach may not have been the best way to depict the DC Universe on the big screen. It ultimately isn’t the culprit for why the franchise couldn’t even stand shoulder to shoulder with the MCU. Rather, studio interference and a clear lack of progressive storytelling is what has eventually forced the franchise into oblivion.

However for all its lightheartedness and humourous sensibilities, Aquaman has some dark undertones that could be more than meets the eye. If they were given the necessary attention.

The Atlantean Tradition

When Arthur initially challenges his half-brother, Orm to a duel for the Throne of Atlantis. A word that is unmistakably echoed throughout this ordeal is “then by bloodshed, do the gods make known their will”. This word is very much indicative of the unforgiving and extremist nature of Atlantis. A nature which was on display yet again, when Queen Atlanna was banished to the kingdom of The Trench.

If more time had been taken to carefully explore the political intricacies of Atlantis, preferably at an earlier time. Since the tenets of the Atlantis society already existed for a while during the events of Aquaman. Perhaps, audiences could have seen a more vicious Atlantis.

One that would been very disturbing to engage with on-screen but would have certainly given context to their somewhat fascist nature.

The Depths

Much like how the Mariana Trench of our real world is filled with vicious looking and grotesque creatures. The hidden sea (from Aquaman) is home to Atlantis’ most regressive civilisation, The Trench. And it’s no secret that these vile looking creatures put Arthur and Mera through the ropes as their adventures led them to the hidden sea.

For the unaware, at one point The Trench as a spinoff project was planned in the future of the DCEU. With horror aficionado, James Wan set to helm the project just as he did Aquaman. This of course, would have been promising to anticipate had WB/DC not axed the project later on.

Also worth of note, is how tonally, The Trench would have been drastically different from Aquaman despite being a part of the subfranchise. Its more darker sensibilities would have close ties to general DCEU. But unlike many other earlier entries within the DCEU, The Trench would have largely benefitted from a dark, horror-tinged story. Since the creatures themselves — who would undoubtedly have been the stars of the project exist only in darkness. Literally.

Furthermore, the sequel hints at a darker turn as a vengeful Black Manta seeks to end Arthur’s bloodline with the help of a Dark Trident.

The darker corners of the Aquaman franchise maybe few and far between, and at this point. May not even see the light of day. But there’s no telling the depths of darkness audiences could have been plunged into, had things been different. And more so, because the Aquaman films have mostly been a less serious affair.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in Cinemas December 22, 2023.