Aquaman’s Bizarre Hijinks & Shazam’s Sudden Shift: Cinema Shake‑up!
Grab your popcorn, because DC’s big‑budget blockbusters are playing a game of hide‑and‑seek with the release calendar. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been delayed from the March 17, 2023 slot to a new date that’s nearer to Christmas – December 25, 2023. And, in a twist, Shazam! Fury of the Gods will take the original March 17 slot that Aquaman had vacated, abandoning its earlier December announcement.
Why the shuffle? With Disney’s Rogue Squadron hitting theaters on December 23, Aquaman’s new debut feels like a Christmas gift for fans who enjoy a splash of Sunday‑marathon vibe. Shazam, meanwhile, gets its own “free reign” for the weekend, moving away from the giant‑screen showdown with Avatar: The Way of Water that was originally slated as its competitor.
Warner Bros isn’t the only studio doing a calendar remix:
- Unnamed WB event film slides into February 10, 2023
- “Evil Dead Rise” gets a fresh slot on April 4, 2023
- “The Nun 2” is now slated for September 8, 2023
- “Salem’s Lot” has been moved to a yet‑to‑be‑announced date later this year
Meet the Stars
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom features Jason Momoa as our heroic wave‑riding dude (yes, he keeps swimming through the whole movie), Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and even Nicole Kidman for a splash of star power. The story’s all about the Main Man forming a shaky alliance with an unlikely sidekick, in a desperate attempt to save Atlantis and the planet from some deep‑sea disaster.
Written by David Leslie Johnson‑McGoldrick and Jason Momoa, with James Wan behind the camera, the film promises a mix of oozing aquatic charm and dramatic stakes — just what we need before the holiday rush.
Meanwhile, Shazam! Is Learning His Own Brand of Chaos
Shazam! Fury of the Gods brings back Zachary Levi (the guy who turns a wizard into a superhero in minuscule time) alongside Grace Fulton, Asher Angel, Rachel Zegler, Jack Dylan Grazer, Helen Mirren, and Lucy Liu. David F. Sandberg directs this lightning‑fast adventure (he famously used to create the guy who turns into an all‑blue blob).
Expect our kid‑turned‑hero to battle the Greek‑mythology wannabe villain duo Hespera and Kalypso — daughter‑duo of the titan Atlas. The film’s new release slot means it tries to ride its own wave, away from the Avatar echo that once surrounded it.
With changing dates, you’ll need to keep an eye on the official listings. Whether these blockbuster launches ultimately rescue or sink you, it’s guaranteed to be a splashy treat before the new year — or at least, a clever twist in the adventure plot.
