Realizing the Challenges Behind the DCEU’s First $1 Billion Movie: Insights from a DC Star’s 2024 Comments

The creation of the DCEU’s inaugural billion-dollar blockbuster, Aquaman, proved to be a formidable undertaking, as revealed by one of its stars. Jason Momoa’s portrayal of the titular hero marked his first solo outing after his initial appearance in Justice League. During a period when the DCEU faced criticism and setbacks, Aquaman emerged as a beacon of success, being the only entry in the now-restructured cinematic universe to surpass the $1 billion milestone.

This film not only represented a financial triumph but also signaled a new artistic direction for the DCEU. Departing from the muted tones of previous installments, Aquaman embraced a vibrant visual palette, bringing the underwater Kingdom of Atlantis to life with stunning artistry. The meticulous attention paid to visual effects contributed to the film’s immersive experience, as the majority of the action transpires beneath the waves. Given the significant effort put into these visual elements, the result is even more commendable.

Dolph Lundgren’s Insights into the Challenges of Filming Aquaman

Dizzying Amount of Takes and Rigorous Production

Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus in Aquaman

Dolph Lundgren, renowned for his role as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, played Nereus, Mera’s father and the king of the Xebel tribe in Aquaman. Lundgren’s character played a crucial role, initially siding with the antagonist, Orm, before aligning himself with Arthur Curry. In a recent interview with Screen Rant during FAN EXPO San Francisco, Lundgren shared insights into the demanding filming process, shedding light on the challenges faced by the cast:

Then I show up in Australia, and there are all scenes where you’re floating; hanging on wires and pretending to be floating because all the underwater scenes are shot in the studio. The only water I saw was the Evian water in the barn that we were drinking for three months. For the first scene, I just had to float off my sea dragon or wherever I’m sitting on and just float over to over here 10 feet. I remember doing 10 takes, 20 takes – I needed 28 takes. I didn’t have one line of dialogue, and I’m like, “G–damnit, am I losing it? Am I this bad?”

And then I remember the next scene was with Willem Defoe, and we did like 40 takes. He forgot half his dialogue; I had to have cotton in my ears just to be able to listen because after a while, you’ve tried everything. It turned out James Wan wanted different performances, but it was also because of the visual effects; if it wasn’t just perfect, we had to reshoot. It was very tedious, but also exciting for me to be in a big movie like that.

Lundgren’s testimony complements remarks made by co-star Patrick Wilson, who emphasized in a press event (via CBR) that the film’s $200 million budget led the cast and crew to their limits. Wilson highlighted the exhaustive efforts of the stunt teams, who cycled through various harnesses to achieve the illusion of being submerged. Even Momoa, known for his physicality in stunts, found the numerous takes in harnesses daunting. Their reflections provide a deeper understanding of the laborious nature of filming a predominantly underwater production, underscoring the commendable results.

The Intrinsic Challenges of Bringing Aquaman to Life

Unique Barriers of the Underwater Setting

Black Manta's first appearance in Aquaman

Aquaman presented unique challenges right from its concept phase, primarily due to its setting in the underwater city of Atlantis. The film’s successful adaptation was contingent on maintaining fidelity to the essence of this iconic DC character, necessitating that director James Wan deliver stunning visual depictions without compromising the narrative.

While previous DCEU films employed extensive visual effects, such as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Aquaman had to transcend these approaches. Capturing the physicality of underwater scenes posed hurdles, particularly in regard to achieving authentic dialogue and action sequences absent from conventional water tanks. The resulting audiovisual experience reflects the filmmakers’ remarkable technological achievements, making the cinematic portrayal of an underwater realm all the more impressive.

A Newfound Appreciation Six Years Post-Debut

How Every Effort Paid Off

Reflecting on Aquaman and its contribution to revitalizing the DCEU amidst the prevailing negativity surrounding Justice League, my admiration for the film has only grown over the past six years. By the time Aquaman broke the billion-dollar barrier, its rivals in the MCU had already celebrated several similar financial accomplishments; yet it stood alone as a DCEU landmark until the release of Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom.

Despite its expansive global earnings, Aquaman fell short of Wonder Woman‘s domestic box office triumph, netting $335 million against Wonder Woman‘s impressive $412 million. Furthermore, it’s disappointing to see how Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom did not quite match its predecessor’s legacy. Following the announcement of a new DC Universe orchestrated by James Gunn and Peter Safran, interest in the sequel appeared diminished. However, it managed to earn $433 million globally, demonstrating that fan appreciation remained strong.