If you Google Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, you will most likely get a series of results unrelated to the movie. While the trailer was finally released earlier in the week, promotion has barely begun for the sequel to the highest-grossing DC movie of all time. Despite filming throughout 2021, the movie has been plagued with reshoots and delays, seemingly never arriving. With the release date set for December 20, 2023, we're left asking what it will be about.

Update September 17, 2023: Following the release of the first trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, this article has been updated by Jack Deegan.

The film's actual plot has gone mostly unconsidered and undiscussed. However, a closer examination reveals a movie with much more potential than the first one. Fortunately, the movie's creators have chosen to forgo the more conventional romance-based or bigger, scarier monster plot and focus on the brotherhood between the now alienated Aquaman and Ocean Master. It seems as though the sequel will embrace its place in a huge roster of superhero blockbusters by shaking things up a little. It looks like it's not going to take itself too seriously and will focus more on character development and dynamics by harvesting the chemistry between its talented leads. Here is why the dynamic between Aquaman and Ocean Master is one of the most exciting prospects for the sequel to explore and everything we expect to see and everything we want to see from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

The Dyanic Between the Actors

Aquaman Fighting Ocean Master
Warner Bros.

Patrick Wilson, the actor behind Ocean Master or Orm Marius, is a likable actor and personality. Known for The Conjuring movies and other more minor hits like Big Stone Gap and The Phantom of the Opera, he is a good-looking, talented, and charming performer who we definitely want to see more of in the Aquaman movies. Even though he plays the supposedly big bad guy -- in a film that co-stars Willem Dafoe, no less -- Wilson still kind of steals the show. His story and arc are interesting, and it was very wise of Warner Bros. to choose to refocus on his character and his dynamic with the titular Aquaman.

Related: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Trailer Finds Jason Momoa’s Superhero Fighting to Save His Family

Jason Momoa, meanwhile, is a powerful presence not just physically but emotionally. He single-handedly remade the character of Aquaman, taking him all the way from fish man to really cool dude. He has much more to offer the adoring public. Momoa and Wilson had great chemistry together in the previous film, yet did not get as many scenes together. Here, we are hoping to see the duo opposite each other a bit more and see their very different styles bounce off one another.

What Has Orm Been Up to?

Orm the Oceanmaster and Aquaman

Throughout 2018's Aquaman, Orm dedicated his life to destroying the surface world after all the harm it did to Atlantis. He even made it as far as to unite four out of the seven kingdoms in this goal and gained the title of Ocean Master. At the film's end, Orm brought an entire army against Aquaman and Atlantis. After the kingdoms denounce Orm when Arthur wields the trident that controls the seven seas and a duel between the two brothers, Orm accepts his imprisonment. With Orm sent off to prison, Arthur ascended to the throne and became the one true King of Atlantis.

Since then, Orm hasn't been making much of an impact as he's still imprisoned. While Arthur has continued ruling over the Kingdom and starting a family, his brother has been locked away the entire time. The trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom gives us our first look at Orm's life of imprisonment. He's seemingly been locked away very deep into the surface world in a sandy environment, losing all of his abilities. Orm is now sporting long hair and a beard, and his body is weakened.

From Brothers to Rivals, to Brothers Again

Arthur and Orm in Aquaman 2

The footage revealed at an Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom panel by Australian director James Wan, also of The Conjuring movies and the first Aquaman installment, at CinemaCon in 2022, revealed the focus on Aquaman and Ocean Master's rivalry and subsequent team-up. Arthur wanted to eventually reconcile with his brother, and evidently, that will be the focus of the sequel, and fans could not be happier!

Ocean Master wasn't much of a traitorous villain, to begin with. His temper tantrums mostly stemmed from resentment at the loss of his mother and misdirected hatred of a group of beings he had no understanding of. Developing a relationship with Momoa's Arthur could bridge that understanding and help Orm grow into an accepting, peaceful, and developing leader.

Related: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s James Wan Discusses the Blending of the Horror and Superhero Genres in the Upcoming Sequel

In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the trailer seems to indicate that the fate of the world is at stake, and Arthur can't stop that without the help of his brother. This leads Arthur to donning a new dark blue Aquaman stealth suit that grants him invisibility, as he must break his brother out without anyone knowing. It's unknown how serious this "global meltdown" is, but it must be a big threat if Arthur needs to free Orm. Even after breaking him out of prison, Orm doesn't look too kindly upon his brother. He disapproves of his type of leadership and doesn't even want Arthur to refer to him as his brother.

It can't be overstated the buddy comedy-type chemistry that two strong leads can have when written properly, and it's hoped that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will give us just that. By providing the two enemy brothers a common enemy in the menacing Black Manta, the two have something to draw them definitively together and to bond over.

What Else Do We Know About Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

aquaman-and-the-lost-kingodm-teaser
Warner Bros. Pictures

Until recently, the movie's plot had been kept under wrap. With the release of the first trailer, we've finally been given an idea of what to expect in the sequel. Yahya Abdul-Mateen's Black Manta is back with a vengeance and seems to be causing a global meltdown all out of spite to take down Aquaman. Black Manta has acquired the "Black Trident", a powerful weapon that has been a curse of the seven Kingdoms and can seemingly raise an army from the dead. Arthur is forced to work with his brother if he wants to save his family and the entire world from irreversible destruction.

The sequel looks to up the ante and delivers an even bigger and more insane film expanding on the world of Atlantis. Despite Aquaman being on the receiving end of jokes for years, the previous film is the most successful in the entire DCEU. It managed to bring in over a billion dollars, something Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League couldn't even do. The world clearly loves Momoa's take on the King of the Seven Seas, so there's a lot of anticipation for this sequel to deliver. At one point, both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's version of Batman were set to appear in the film, but with the incoming universe reset, it seems both of them have been cut from the movie.

There is plenty to speculate on, however, after examining the comic books. While test screenings haven't been the most well-received, there's still potential for the film to deliver. Overall, we are very excited and hopeful to see what this sequel has put together for devoted fans. There is much to be excited about with its excellent cast and extensive chemistry setting it apart from the other fish in the sea! Get it?