It will be four years since the original when highest-grossing DC movie of all time.
Due to its financial success and the positive response from audiences, it came as no surprise to learn that December 2022 release date for Aquaman 2.
Related: How Aquaman's Ending Sets Up An Even Better Sequel
The release window is not a surprise, but the four year gap is. This modern era of blockbusters and superhero franchises have made a habit of using a three year cycle, while the Disney era Avengers: Age of Ultron, but there are currently no known plans for Momoa to do the same.
Even though Aquaman isn't scheduled to appear in any other films right now, the larger DC slate is likely one of the main factors behind this wait. Unlike Marvel Studios, DC Films has announced a full slate of films through 2021, with Aquaman 2 being the lone 2022 release right now. The studio has two films this year and in 2020, and it would take a serious rush to have Aquaman 2 ready by 2020 anyway. 2021 would be the film's release year under the usual three year model, but DC already has if The Trench spinoff movie moves quickly.
The other likely holdup for Aquaman 2 is the interest by WB and DC to keep the franchise in the winter season after the first made over $1 billion in this window. Even if the studios wanted to push the sequel out quicker, this would be near impossible without it having major competition. This year sees Lucasfilm return to December for feature plenty of underwater sequences.
As of right now, Aquaman 2 just has an untitled Disney live-action film to compete with in its opening weekend, but that may not be a problem after the original easily outlasted before (hopefully) diving back in, prevents the sequel from being rushed through development, keeps the DC slate from becoming too big, and gives the sequel an early claim on a weekend that the franchise has already had success with. A four year wait for Aquaman 2 may be a bit longer than most would've expected, but it is probably for the best.
