The new five-minute trailer for Aquaman may have earned the DCEU a convert in comic book writer Mark Millar.
The scribe known for his work on Kick-Ass and Civil War hasn’t been the biggest fan of DC’s cinematic output in the past. Earlier this year, for instance, Millar argued that superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman don’t translate well to the big screen, since these characters are more defined by their powers than their personalities. But based on this recent tweet from the writer, the latest footage from Arthur Curry’s first standalone film may have him rethinking his stance:
“Aquaman trailer just made modern Marvel look like 70s TV Marvel, chums. The green gauntlet has been slapped down and DC back in the game. A 5 min trailer so damn audacious, [James Wan], you damn genius!”
Given the difficulties experienced by the DCEU in these last few years in establishing a credible cinematic universe to rival the MCU, perhaps it should be taken as an encouraging sign that this next film is clicking with fans in a way that previous outings like the commercially underwhelming Justice League failed to. In light of reports of Henry Cavill’s departure from the role of Superman and Warner Bros. hitting the reset button on the series – not to mention the current uncertainty around whether Ben Affleck’s still playing Batman – it’s clear that the DCEU is going through a period of transition, putting a fair amount of pressure on Wan’s film to show that this franchise still has a worthwhile future in it.
We’ll see if Aquaman can live up to some lofty expectations when it hits theaters on December 21st, 2018. After that, the DCEU still has Shazam! lined up for April 5th, 2019, followed by Wonder Woman 1984 on November 1st.