The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) Concludes With An Underwhelming Post-Credits Scene In Aquaman 2. Momoa’s end in DC?

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) concludes with an underwhelming post-credits scene in Aquaman 2. What lies ahead for Jason Momoa and the future of DC?

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, After a decade, 16 films, and some recent disappointments in both reviews and box office numbers, the DC Extended Universe concludes its journey with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

The Last Film of the Old DCEU

Jason Momoa takes on the role of Aquaman for the seventh time in his career, encompassing two solo films, a Justice League collaboration, and several cameos. The initial standalone movie, 2018’s Aquaman, surpassed expectations, becoming the highest-grossing DC film ever with $1.15 billion in global box office revenue.

However, it appears that this outing may mark Momoa’s final appearance as Aquaman. The new heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, are set to revitalize the DC universe with the 2025 release of Superman: Legacy, planning to recast many of the key roles. As per the currently disclosed DC slate, there is no mention of another Aquaman movie, making Lost Kingdom Momoa’s temporary farewell to the character.

If Gunn and Safran decide to retain certain elements of the current DCEU, Lost Kingdom may have sown the seeds for the future. A significant development in the sequel is the introduction of Aquaman and his queen of Atlantis, Mera (Amber Heard), welcoming a baby named Arthur Jr. The child inherits some of his parents’ aquatic abilities. Aquaman’s responsibilities as a father are disrupted when a possessed Black Manta (Yahya Abdul Matteen II) reemerges, using the ancient Black Trident artifact to unleash global warming disasters. Aquaman, alongside his reformed brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), must thwart Black Manta’s plan to resurrect the zombie army of Necrus, an ancient underwater kingdom lost to time. Ultimately, the heroes succeed, Black Manta meets his demise, and Aquaman discloses Atlantis’ existence to the United Nations, seeking recognition of the underwater civilization as a sovereign nation.

Aquaman 2 and a Controversial Post-Credits Scene

image via warner Bros

While most superhero movies use post-credits scenes to provide glimpses of the franchise’s future, the conclusion of the cinematic universe raises questions. In the case of Aquaman 2 and the DCEU’s culmination, the post-credits scene takes an unexpected turn—it serves as a callback to an earlier joke.

During their shared adventures, Aquaman introduces Orm to the wonders of the surface world, including beer, greasy burgers, and, humorously, cockroaches. To his surprise, Orm enjoys tasting a cockroach. In the mid-credits scene, Orm sits in a restaurant, orders a burger, and adds a crunchy cockroach to it, concluding the DCEU on a light note.

However, the question lingers: is this truly Jason Momoa’s final portrayal of a DC character? Reports suggest he has engaged in discussions with James Gunn about potential roles in the new DC universe or embodying a different character.

“I’ll always be Aquaman. Ain’t anyone coming in there and taking shit. There might be some other characters, too. I can play other things, too. I can be funny and savage and charming,” he remarked.

Jason Momoa Statements to Entertainment Tonight

While fan rumors circulate that Momoa could take on the role of Lobo, a muscular, long-haired alien bounty hunter who bears some resemblance to Momoa, nothing has been officially confirmed. As this DCEU chapter concludes, Momoa remains open to revisiting the iconic role that brought him widespread recognition.

“The truth of it is, I mean, if the audience loves , then there’s a possibility. But right now, I’m like, ‘It’s not looking too good.’ I love this character and play it for a long time,” Momoa said. “I kind of see where I would want it to go. And even in the next 10 years or so, there’s a lot of cool things they can do. And I do enjoy the role and the world. So, I mean, it just comes down to if people love it.”

Featured Image Via Warner Bros. Pictures