This isn’t as shocking as getting doused with a cold bucket of water, but Aquaman is getting a sequel. The film is already on track to earn $65 million in its opening weekend. Additionally, positive early reviews have shown that this is the movie to watch this holiday. So it comes as no surprise that a sequel is “in development.” More on the report below.

THR did a profile on Amber Heard, who plays Mera in the upcoming film. And somewhere in between that profile is a little blurb about the unconfirmed sequel:

This is welcomed news for DC fans who have been eagerly awaiting to see a decent DCEU film. The practice of announcing a sequel before its predecessor film has been released is not entirely uncommon. But it does show how much confidence WB has in the film. Of course, all the positive aforementioned news does help.

No word yet on whether or not director James Wan is coming back. But you have to think there is an offer for him to stay considering none of this would be possible without him.

Whether or not you are a fan of the DCEU, there is no doubt the cinematic universe has struggled to keep up with its director competitor Marvel Studios. Still, WB’s DCEU reached a few more milestones sooner than Marvel did. They were the first major studio to release a female-led superhero film that was directed by a female. Wonder Woman went on to prove that audiences have an interest in seeing more diverse stories with other voices at the helm.

Of course, that doesn’t mean DCEU was able to escape some of its issues. Films like Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Suicide Squad, and the Justice League failed to meet expectations. And now it looks like many of those films are going through a major overhaul with actors like Ben Affleck, who played Batman, and Henry Cavill expressing interest in leaving the role or just left it entirely.

But now things are looking bright for the DCEU. Aquaman is already getting strong reviews and is on its way to getting a sequel. Wonder Woman has proven time and again that she can carry the entire weight of the DCEU on her shoulders. And Shazam! looks very promising. Then there’s Birds Of Prey, which touts a very diverse cast. Not only that, but it is being directed by a woman.

So at least things are looking up for the DCEU. Let’s just hope it can stay that way for the long run.

Aquaman stars Jason Momoa, who plays the title character. It also stars Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, and Temuera Morrison. It opens in theaters on December 21, 2018.

[Source: THR]