Why Aquaman 2 Could Be The Most Relevant Modern Superhero Movie

GreekFire

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Sep 18, 2021
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If Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is as focused on environmentalism and the climate crisis as the promotional footage so far has made it seem, the film could end up being the most relevant modern superhero movie. Directed by James Wan and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the sequel stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, and a supporting cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Indya Moore. Aquaman 2 is slated for release on December 16, 2022.

Historically, Aquaman hasn’t necessarily been the most popular superhero. Prior to Momoa’s DCEU version of the character, Aquaman was most famous for the jokes that surrounded his fish-centric superpowers – an unfortunate phenomenon largely due to his depiction in Super Friends. The Atlantean hero has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, but he’s a bit removed from upper-echelon DC heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and even the Flash.

Despite all that, Aquaman 2 could sneakily become the most important superhero movie of the modern era – if the advertised environmentalist themes are as prevalent as they seem to be, that is. The climate crisis is possibly the most important issue facing humanity today, and if Aquaman 2 gets its story and messaging right, it could use its massive blockbuster platform in a truly impactful way. Here’s why.

Superhero Movies Haven’t Addressed The Climate Crisis

Superhero movies and TV shows have never been the center of groundbreaking sociopolitical discourse, nor should they be expected to be. However, over the years, films in the genre have at least attempted to offer more serious commentary on relevant issues, as seen in some of MCU Phase 4’s Disney+ series like WandaVision, which deals with grief and mental health, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which attempts to grapple with both class division and the continued oppression of Black Americans.

One issue that hasn’t really been broached in modern superhero cinema, however, is the climate crisis, despite the fact that it’s one of the most important issues facing humanity today. The biggest superhero movies in recent memory to have even broached the subject are Avengers: Endgame – which deals loosely with the ramifications of resource scarcity and ecological mismanagement – and the first Aquaman. In Aquaman 2, Wan, Momoa, and the rest of the cast and crew have a chance to craft a superior successor to the original film, finally delivering a superhero movie that puts the environment front and center in the story.

Aquaman’s Environmentalist History Explained

The character of Aquaman has always been one of the most environmentally-minded superheroes in the comic book canon. His entire backstory and the nature of his powers establish him as a protector of not just the human and Atlantean realms, but of the natural world at large. The hero’s ability to communicate with sea creatures, while often made fun of, ties Aquaman to the Earth in a way that very few major superheroes are, particularly when it comes to protecting and preserving the oceans. Since taking on the Aquaman character, Momoa has carried that responsibility into the real world, testifying before the United Nations on the importance of immediate climate protection policies. A student of marine biology in his college years, Momoa has spoken up often on issues of environmental preservation, tying together his Aquaman character to the issues facing the planet today.

Aquaman 2 Is About Protecting The Environment

In the promotional footage for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom released during DC FanDome 2021, Momoa discussed his intentions for the film being a meaningful story about the importance of environmental protection. That would be a continuation of the original Aquaman’s story, which includes plotlines about human pollution and disregard for the seas. Because no trailers have been released yet, it’s hard to say just how central the environmentalist messaging will be to the story of Aquaman 2. However, because of Momoa’s proven track record as an environmental activist, it seems possible that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could actually deliver on his promise.

At the very least, it should be interesting to see how Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom balances its larger fantasy story – one that involves the original King of Atlantis and the various kingdoms of the underwater world – with the heavier, more topical story of the climate crisis. Wan has said that worldbuilding will be a big part of Aquaman 2, and with so many DC characters returning, there may not be too much time for a whole other plotline about real-world environmentalism. Obviously, the ideal scenario is a movie that incorporates those topical themes seamlessly into its own superhero story, but it’s yet to be proven that the film is capable of pulling that off.

Aquaman 2 Needs To Do More Than The Original Film

The first Aquaman movie tried to deal with the real-world ramifications of pollution and climate change, but it fell notably short of its potential, instead leaning too hard into a generic superhero story with very little to actually say. Orm, a.k.a. Ocean Master, hates humanity because of their consistent disregard for aquatic ecosystems, prompting him to take drastic measures in response. It’s not inherently a problem to give a morally gray character environmentalist tendencies, but Orm’s portrayal in Aquaman is far from morally gray. He’s a cartoonish bad guy with basically no screen time allotted to what’s justified in his beliefs, resulting in an environmentalist message that essentially says nothing.

If Aquaman 2 is to be the groundbreaking, climate-conscious superhero movie Momoa seems to hope it can be, it needs to do much better than its predecessor. Keeping the pro-environment viewpoints away from silly, one-dimensional villains would be a start, but it’s not all that needs to be done. Again, blending heavy, real-world themes like the irrefutable effects of climate change with a family-friendly superhero story is no easy task. Studios don’t want to bum audiences out, after all, and a heavy-handed story full of preachy monologues about nature usually doesn’t convince anybody of anything. But despite all that’s going against it, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has a real shot at telling a meaningful, impactful story – one that might be able to at least inspire the kids and parents who turn out to see it that it’s worth their utmost energy and effort to protect the Earth in any way they can.

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2022)
Release Date: Dec 16, 2022