James Wan & Patrick Wilson Talk DCU Return Chances

Two integral members of the DC Extended Universe’s Aquaman franchise have just cast doubt on returning for James Gunn‘s rebooted DC Universe.

DC fans may be surprised to learn that 2018’s Aquaman is the highest-grossing movie based on a DC Comics character of all time, with a total worldwide box office of $1.152 billion. Acclaimed filmmaker James Wan directed the superhero blockbuster, while Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson co-led the movie as Arthur Curry and his half-brother Orm Marius, whose alter egos are Aquaman and Ocean Master, respectively. All three returned for the 2023 sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which served as the final installment in the DCEU.

What did Aquaman’s James Wan and Patrick Wilson say about the DCU?

DC Studios has already confirmed that Momoa will be part of the new DCU, albeit in the role of Lobo, rather than Aquaman. As for Wan and Wilson, they recently told ComicBook.com during an interview for their new movie, The Conjuring: Last Rites, that a return to the DCU seems unlikely.

“No, never met him. So I have no relationship there,” Wilson shared when asked if he’d had conversations with DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn about a DC return. “Obviously, Peter [Safran], his partner, is our [The Conjuring] producer, so I’ve known Peter forever. I mean, we said what we needed to say with Orm, so yeah, I love the guy, love the character.”

Wan, on the other hand, admitted that he has “chatted briefly on the surface” with Safran about a potential DC return, but clarified that nothing is officially in the cards as he has taken a step back from directing for his mental health.

“I haven’t really. Peter and I have just chatted briefly on the surface, but I’ve actually just taken a bit of a hiatus from directing and just taking a break for my mental health because directing just takes so much out of you physically and mentally and emotionally,” Wan explained. “And so, who knows? Never say never. But for now, I’m slowly getting back in there. I tell you what I would be keen to do is, I love the idea of maybe getting back into horror.”

Both Aquaman movies are currently streaming on HBO Max, while The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters on September 5, 2025.

Originally reported by Lee Freitag on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net