This 1984 AQUAMAN Fan Film Cost $10,000 to Make

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This is the first Aquaman fan film ever made, and it was created in 1984 by UCLA film students Thomas Farr and Jeff Klein. The film is called Aquaman: Cast of the Angler, and the two students managed to pool together $10,000 of their own money to make it.

Since it was made in the '80s, you can expect a lot of laughable silliness, but it’s still fun to watch, and it’s really a solid fan made film. Especially for the '80s. They took a few creative liberties with Aquaman’s origin story, and pit the superhero against "The Angler,” who is basically a stand in for the classic villain The Fisherman.

Jeff Klein and I made this during film school for 10 grand. We won Best Fantasy Film from the Los Angeles Film Teachers Association and Best Picture CSUN Film Showcase. DC Comics gave us permission to shoot the film (Thanks Jenette Kahn DC Comics 1979-2002) The movie was pirated and sold as a TV pilot. I accidentally found it at a comic book convention in the 90's (as a double feature with another super hero pilot). After the film was screened we had a few Hollywood companies approach us wanting to make Aquaman into a show. New World Pictures brought us into meeting, optioned the material, and basically didn't talk to us afterwards. The show never happened. Jeff and I will always be proud of the film. We had written a million dollar script so we shot a few scenes as a trailer/short. No money for effects it has a "Six Million Dollar Man" look with the feel of the old Batman series of the 60's. We were ahead of our time. We always knew this could be a great property. Hoping the new movie is fun and exciting. There were scratches in the film when I transferred recently. So, one day when I have the money I will try and take out in post. Or see if Jeff's print of the film is still around and see if it is in better shape.

The short also includes an appearance by Thomas Dewier, who went on to become a famous Hollywood stuntman who would appear in Batman & Robin, Iron Man 3, X-Men: First Class, Star Trek into Darkness, the Power Rangers movie, and more. He played The Angler.

As for the creators of the short, they never made another film.

Jeff Klein and I made this during film school for 10 grand. We won Best Fantasy Film from the Los Angeles Film Teachers Association and Best Picture CSUN Film Showcase. DC Comics gave us permission to shoot the film (Thanks Jenette Kahn DC Comics 1979-2002) The movie was pirated and sold as a TV pilot.