James Wan's Next Project Is Not Aquaman 2

Between underwater worlds and realms of terror, James Wan has been a busy man over the past decade. After making his comic book debut on the exhilarating Aquaman last year, fans have been clamoring for a follow-up adventure, and while one is certainly in the works with Wan returning to the helm, sadly it won’t be the Australian mastermind’s next project.

In sitting down for an interview with CinemaBlend for the latest installment in the Conjuring spin-off franchise, Annabelle Comes Home, Wan was asked if the DC Comics sequel would be his next project, to which he directly said it wouldn’t be, but he did offer something interesting.

“I think I kind of know [what I want to direct next],” said Wan. “I have something that I’ve been cooking up but I’m not really sure just yet.”

It is interesting to note that Wan mentions he has been cooking something up, as he is currently attached to numerous projects, including an upcoming reboot of the Mortal Kombat film adaptation series, for which he is executive producing and Simon McQuoid directing the film. One notable project he currently has in development is an adaptation of the classic Stephen King novel The Tommyknockers, for which he is set to produce under his banner Atomic Monster, and has been eyed to direct by Universal since they acquired the adaptation in a heated bidding war last year.

Aquaman became the biggest success for DC films, which have a history of faltering at the box office, with the exception of Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman. It grossed over $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office, earning its spot as the highest grossing DC film of all-time for Warner Bros, and revealed the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry (Momoa) and took him on the journey of his lifetime — one that forced him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be… a king.

Aquaman also starred Amber Heard (Justice League, Magic Mike XXL) as Mera, a fierce warrior and Aquaman’s ally throughout his journey; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Platoon, Spider-Man 2) as Vulko, counsel to the Atlantean throne; Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring films, Watchmen) as Orm/Ocean Master, the present King of Atlantis; Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables films) as Nereus, King of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Baywatch, The Get Down) as the vengeful Black Manta; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours, Lion) as Arthur’s mom, Atlanna. Also starring is Ludi Lin (Power Rangers) as Captain Murk, Atlantean Commando, and Temeura Morrison (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Green Lantern) as Arthur’s dad, Tom Curry.

Directed by horror auteur James Wan (The Conjuring) from a script by Will Beall (Gangster Squad) and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (The Conjuring 2), from the story by Geoff Johns, Wan and Beall, the film was being produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Rob Cowan, Jon Berg, Walter Hamada and Geoff Johns served as executive producers. The movie is based on characters from DC’s Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.