DC has had a rough time launching their movie universe. Since Marvel and Disney constructed their billion dollar interconnected movie universe, almost everyone is trying to follow the wave. DC launched their own movie universe with Man of Steel, and then followed up with Batman V Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Justice League. Although fans and critics are split, it's safe to say that most of the movies were not well received, with the shining exception being Wonder Woman.
DC may have to rely on their characters who don't wear an "S" or swing through Gotham City if they want to keep their movie franchises going. Marvel took a risk putting Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America at the forefront of their films. While those three heroes seem like an obvious choice now, back in 2008 the three leading men of the Avengers were nowhere near as popular as Marvel's most lucrative characters at the time (which were Wolverine and Spider-Man, who were featured in movies years in advance). Marvel continues to take gambles (Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy) and now DC will do the same. Aquaman spent decades as a pop culture joke due to his power to talk to fish, but Jason Momoa gave new life to the character in Justice League.
Momoa is front and center on the latest cover of EW, along with Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman, who play Mera and Queen Atlanna, respectively. “The water world my movie takes place in is so separate and so far apart from previous DC movies it’s like I’m making my own sci-fi fantasy film,” stated director James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious, Furious 7). “This is a whole new underwater world nobody has seen before in live action.”
Fans who were concerned about the "air-bubble" talking aspect that was used in Justice League to show how the underwater Atlanteans spoke have nothing to fear. In the comics, Aquaman and his people do not need air-bubbles to communicate, and it was one of the many awkward moments in Justice League's plot. Wan assured fans that he has cleaned up that error for his solo film.
Aquaman hits theaters on December 21.