by Justin Cook
James Wan, director of Furious 7, has officially signed on to helm DC’s Aquaman.
For quite some time now, it has been known that Wan was in the running for the Warner Bros. film, but only recently did he close a deal to join the project.
Aquaman, which is slated for a July 27, 2018 release, will star Jason Momoa as the title superhero. Kurt Johnstad will pen the film’s script, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Charles Roven all producing.
Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman is set to appear in next year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, alongside Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent/Superman, Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman and Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor.
Momoa will also return as the character in 2017’s The Justice League Part One.
Wan is one of the most successful directors working in Hollywood today. He initially found fame in the horror genre, directing such lucrative and well-received films as Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring. It was only this year that he decided to move outside of his comfort zone and tackle the next installment The Fast and the Furious franchise. Not only did critics praise the film for its over-the-top action and self-awareness, but the film also became the most financially successful of the entire series, grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide.
Read the official press release about the news below:
Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that director James Wan (“Furious Seven,” “The Conjuring”) will take the helm of the Studio’s upcoming Aquaman feature film, with Jason Momoa (“Game of Thrones”) starring as the sea-dwelling Super Hero. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Silverman stated, “We’ve been so lucky to have worked with James, first on New Line’s ‘The Conjuring’ and now on their upcoming ‘The Conjuring 2,’ and are thrilled to have him on board as we continue to expand our DC slate. The Aquaman film will be a major tentpole picture for us and James’s span of work has proven him able to take on any manner of project, bringing his incredible creative talent and unique voice to the material.”
Wan will also be supervising the script by Kurt Johnstad (“300,” “300: Rise of an Empire”). The film is being produced by Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder and Zack Snyder.
Roven said, “James is not only a great storyteller but can make action truly explode on the big screen, and Jason has a dynamic presence that commands your attention. Together, they will bring an undeniable vitality and energy to this character as he headlines his first feature film.”
An icon for over 70 years, Aquaman is the King of the Seven Seas. This reluctant ruler of Atlantis, caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, is committed to protecting the entire globe.
Source: Warner Bros.
