Director James Wan Explains Why ‘Aquaman’ Doesn’t Have A Justice League Cameo
In Warner Bros. and DC Comics’ most recent film Aquaman, Arthur Curry needs to shield the surface world from the threat of his sibling and the militant powers of Atlantis.
It’s a tall undertaking, and one that have conceivably crushing outcomes for the surface world and the populace over the globe. So for what reason didn’t Aquaman get assistance from his companions in the Justice League? Director James Wan addressed this while talking with Huffington Post.
“I just feel like this is his stand-alone movie, just let it be about Aquaman,” Wan said. “I feel like all the other characters have had so many movies; audiences have known all the other characters in all the other movies, all these different projects. Let this be Aquaman’s time in the spotlight.”
The director has a point, as Aquaman finally getting his opportunity to shine has apparently made an improved film, however, fans still have more questions regarding how this film fits into the shared universe.
In Justice League, Aquaman goes to Atlantis with expectations of keeping Steppenwolf from anchoring one of the three Mother Boxes covered up on Earth. In any case, Wan clarified this wasn’t an issue, as he talked about with director Zack Snyder.
“So when he told me that was his idea,” Wan says. “I was like, ‘Oh great, then I can actually have Arthur go to Atlantis for the first time.’ That’s very important for me, because he can go into it and have a wide-eyed approach to Atlantis and be in awe of it. I think that’s very important from a storytelling standpoint because the audience gets to experience Atlantis for the first time along with the character.”
The director proceeded to contrast Arthur’s entry with a vital scene in Jurassic Park, taking a noteworthy cue from Steven Spielberg.
“It wouldn’t be the same if Arthur goes to Atlantis and he’s been here before and he’s kind of jaded about it,” Wan said. “There’s nothing impressing him. Then you as an audience watching would not be impressed either. It’s that Spielberg approach, right?
“Seeing a character seeing something for the first time ― like in Jurassic Park when Laura Dern sees the dinosaur for the first time. The camera is pushing in on her look of awe and wonderment. That’s how you convey it to the audience and that’s how the audience comes along with the characters.”
