Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep

Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Karyn Kusama
Written by	David Kajganich
Produced by	Freddie Goodwin Marcus V. Lane
Starring	Alexander Skarsgård Sofia Boutella David Dastmalchian Tadanobu Asano Ella Rae-Smith Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Shohreh Aghdashloo Cliff Curtis Michelle Yeoh
Edited by	TBA
Production company	DC Studios
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	November 10, 2028 (2028-11-10)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$220 million
Box office	$768.3 million

Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep is a 2028 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. Produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the fifth installment in the DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU). Directed by Karyn Kusama and written by David Kajganich, the film stars Alexander Skarsgård as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, alongside Sofia Boutella, David Dastmalchian, Tadanobu Asano, Ella Rae-Smith, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cliff Curtis, and Michelle Yeoh.

Set after the events of Green Lantern: Dominion, the film delves into ancient sea myths, political unrest within Atlantis, and the emergence of a long-lost civilization that threatens Earth’s elemental balance. It is noted for blending mythic horror with high-stakes geopolitical drama beneath the ocean's surface.

The film was officially announced in January 2025 as part of the DCCU's Chapter One: Crisis slate. Kusama was confirmed as director in mid-2026, with Kajganich joining as screenwriter shortly after. Principal photography began in 2027, with location shooting in Italy, Iceland, the UK, and Australia.

Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep was released in the United States on November 10, 2028. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Kusama's direction, the darker tone, and underwater visuals. The film grossed $768.3 million worldwide against a production budget of $220 million.

Plot

Years after uniting the seven underwater kingdoms, Arthur Curry reigns as the reluctant but respected King of Atlantis. Though peace holds, strange tremors begin shaking the ocean floor, and ancient currents once sealed by magic begin to stir. The Atlantean High Council warns Arthur of an ancient prophecy: the awakening of the Abyssal Maw — a primordial trench sealed away before even Atlantis rose — whose return would drown the surface world in endless flood and shadow.

When a surface ship investigating seismic activity disappears in the Southern Ocean, Arthur investigates and uncovers a buried gateway beneath the Antarctic shelf, glowing with runes predating even Atlantean civilization. Meanwhile, marine archaeologist Dr. Elena Kord discovers matching relics in a submerged Indonesian temple, pointing to a hidden civilization known as Necrathea — a pre-Atlantean empire of aquatic mystics wiped from memory by an ancient war. With the help of Elena and loyal general Murk, Arthur sets out to uncover the truth of Necrathea before its secrets resurface.

The journey takes them through bioluminescent rift trenches, abandoned Leviathan temples, and volcanic vents guarded by mutated trench-born beasts. As Arthur dives deeper, he encounters Lyra, an exile from Necrathea who warns him that the Abyssal Maw was once the prison of a fallen god — Namma, the Sea Womb — sealed away by her own people after she attempted to remake the world in her image.

However, not all in Atlantis trust Arthur’s surface ties. Orm, Arthur’s estranged half-brother, returns claiming visions of the Maw’s awakening and proposes an alliance to face the coming threat. The uneasy partnership is tested when they discover that the Maw has already begun seeping into the seas, warping wildlife and bending deep-sea currents toward a singular gravitational sink beneath the Indian Ocean.

In the final act, Arthur, Orm, Lyra, and Elena descend into the Abyssal Maw, discovering Namma’s cocooned form feeding off the planet’s tectonic energy. The final battle rages across shifting seabeds, collapsing rifts, and gravity-warped caverns. Orm sacrifices himself to sever the Heart Current — a mystic leyline powering Namma’s reawakening — allowing Arthur to pierce her shell with the reforged Trident of Atlan, disrupting her essence and restoring balance to the seas.

Arthur re-emerges changed, not only as King but as a guardian of the hidden legacies beneath the ocean floor. He leaves Atlantis once more under Mera’s stewardship to explore the remaining secrets of the deep.

In a mid-credits scene, Elena presents Arthur with a recovered tablet from Necrathea, warning him that similar abyssal gates are opening across the globe — one near the Bermuda Triangle.

In the post-credits scene, Amanda Waller reviews Necrathean footage acquired from A.R.G.U.S. operatives. Behind her, holograms flash of the Phantom Zone’s weakening barrier. She makes a secure call: “Activate Protocol Dawnreach. We’re not the only ones in the water anymore.”

Cast

• Alexander Skarsgård as Arthur Curry / Aquaman
• Sofia Boutella as Mera
• David Dastmalchian as Vulko
• Tadanobu Asano as Atlan
• Ella Rae-Smith as Tula
• Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Orm Marius / Ocean Master
• Shohreh Aghdashloo as Hila / Siren
• Cliff Curtis as Nereus
• Michelle Yeoh as Thara

Production

Development

Following the success of the first wave of DCCU films, Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep was greenlit as part of Chapter One: Crisis. Karyn Kusama was selected to direct due to her success with dark, character-driven thrillers, and David Kajganich was brought on for his experience writing horror-inflected drama. The film was pitched as a fusion of deep-sea mystery and ancient horror, drawing inspiration from pre-Atlantean mythology and abyssal folklore.

Filming

Principal photography began in 2027. Filming took place in Italy, Iceland, Australia, and sound stages in the United Kingdom. Extensive underwater sequences were achieved through a blend of practical tank shoots and digital compositing, with visual effects handled by Wētā FX and DNEG.

Release

Aquaman: Secrets of the Deep was released theatrically in the United States on November 10, 2028. It is the fifth entry in the DCCU’s Chapter One: Crisis.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Kusama’s direction, the rich worldbuilding, and the darker tone compared to previous Aquaman portrayals. Some reviewers highlighted the film’s mythological depth and visual ambition, though a few noted pacing issues in the second act. The film grossed $768.3 million worldwide against a production budget of $220 million, making it a financial success.

See also

• DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU)
• Green Lantern: Dominion
• Justice League: Infinite