We explore the untold history of the tomb and the reasons behind its removal.
Surprised by the success of Aquaman, Warner Bros. was planning a dark ride on The Pit in the Atlantis universe. However, this project never saw the light of day due to mixed circumstances. What exactly was Trench and why did it sink before sailing to the big screen?
The mystery of the deep
After the unexpected success of Aquaman in 2018, which grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide, Warner Bros. quickly wanted to return to Atlantis. The announcement of the scary spin, The Pit, promises to enter a dark and unknown realm in the sea. The film was originally intended to focus on Black Manta’s journey following his confrontation with Aquaman. However, the cancellation of the spin-off was influenced by Warner Bros.’ transition to a standalone and DCEU and the uncertain direction of the studio.
In the next installment, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Arthur Currie must join forces with his brother Orm to protect Atlantis from the Black Manta, who, in his deranged desire to avenge his father’s death, unleashes a devastating weapon.
The hidden history of the cemetery
The announcement of The Pit with James Wan as director was a ploy to keep fans engaged while leaving room for an Aquaman sequel. Although there was initially talk of exploring the mysterious Trench area, Wan later revealed that the trip would involve Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) after his first encounter with Aquaman. Although the project was canceled, Black Manta would return as the main antagonist of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, chasing the legendary Black Trident.
Why was this Black Manta story deleted?
Despite the success of Aquaman, the expansion of the franchise was complicated by the divisive leadership of the DCEU. Since Zack Snyder left during the production of Justice League, Warner Bros. has tried to move away from the dark tone of previous projects, opting for more neutral and lighthearted films. This makes Aquaman’s horror production highly unlikely.
In this situation, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ faced an absurd controversy where they were called not to include the film. However, it took five years for Warner Bros. to release a direct sequel to the blockbuster, indicating that the franchise needed a new direction.
Could The Hole take place in James Gunn’s DC universe?
With Black Adam released and Gunnan and Peter Safran appointed to lead a new version of DC, almost every role in the DCEU will be redefined, including the original Atlantis team. This means that the probability of the pie being real is now less. Jason Momoa, knowing that he probably won’t be returning as Aquaman in the new universe, could play another DC character even if his reign on Atlantis ended with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. A new start for the actor is already leaving The Pit, while Gunu and Safran may present their own version of Atlantis.
The truth behind The Pit’s mystery is that the studio was faced with a billion-dollar franchise without reliable leadership at the time. While it can be difficult to coordinate a franchise with multiple projects, Atlantis should be a priority for the company after the success of 2018. For now, five years after the franchise made headlines, it ends with a mere billion-dollar success.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is in theaters now.