Aquaman Illustration - H 2013
Jim Lee/DC EntertainmentWill Beall is diving back into the ocean.
The Gangster Squad scribe is once again writing Aquaman, Warner Bros.’ feature project based on the iconic DC Comics character. This time however, he is working off a detailed treatment from filmmaker James Wan, who is attached to direct, and Geoff Johns, comics author and co-head of DC Films.
Jason Momoa is set to star as the half-human, half-Atlantean King of the Seven Seas, with a July 27, 2018, release date slated for the pic.
Warners was developing Aquaman on dual tracks, hiring multiple writers to develop scripts simultaneously. Beall and Kurt Johnstad, a frequent collaborator of Justice League director Zack Snyder, then a major architect of the DC cinematic universe, were hired in summer 2014. Late last year, when Wan came circling the project, Wan’s Conjuring 2 scribe David Leslie Johnson became another track.
In the meantime, Beall moved off the project and became the writer and executive producer of the Training Day television pilot, which has been ordered to series by CBS.
Recently, all Aquaman development tracks were deep-sixed as Wan and Johns focused on getting the story in ship-shape. Beall was then rehired to write the script, this time as the only writer. He is working with Wan and Johns.
Joining Momoa in the cast so far are Amber Heard as Aquaman’s mate, Mera, and Willem Dafoe as his advisor, Vulko.
Beall is repped by CAA and Management 360.
