'Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom' Undergoes Third Round of Reshoots, Cuts Batman Cameo (Report)

justjared.com:

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is undergoing some changes. According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, the DC film has recently completed a third round of reshoots, which were done by director James Wan and featured stars Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson. Keep reading to find out what’s reportedly happening behind the scenes… While it’s not uncommon for blockbuster movies like Aquaman to do reshoots, THR notes that three rounds of reshoots is a little unorthodox.

Sources told the outlet that these reshoots were initially done in response to test screenings. A new cut of the film was then played for audiences again and when that version of the film tested even worse, a third round of reshoots was ordered. “Different visions of executives notwithstanding, it is unclear what the problems were, but one insider said the underlying issue of story clarity has been an ongoing concern,” THR claims.

Another reported issue is the role of Batman within the film. While the caped crusader was expected to make an appearance, things have been complicated by the decision to push back the film’s release date. Michael Keaton originally filmed a scene, but was replaced by Ben Affleck after it seemed like Aquaman 2 would be released before The Flash.

But due to the events that happen in the latter film, it seems as though the cameo might be cut entirely. THR adds, “The latest cut of the film features neither version of the Dark Knight, according to sources, as new DC heads James Gunn and Peter Safran do not want to promise a movie universe that will not come to fruition nor tie it down excessively to past failures. ‘It was pretty chaotic,’ said one source.” Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will hit theaters on December 20, 2023.