New Details on The AQUAMAN Spinoff Horror Film THE TRENCH and How DC is Drawing From THE CONJURING Franchise
Not long after Aquaman was released, it was announced that WB and DC were developing a spinoff horror film based on the terrifying Trench creatures. I’m actually looking forward to this project and today we have some additional details to share with you regarding it.
The project is being developed by producers James Wan and Peter Safran along with writers Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald. Safran explained in an interview with THR that this is a project that they have been looking at making since the early concept art days of Aquaman.
“We always, even from the early concept art days, loved the idea of a Trench movie. Then, when audiences embraced it in the movie itself the way they did, particularly that ant farm shot where the camera follows the Trench [creatures] following Arthur and Mera down into the deep, we just knew that we had something very special there and we knew what that movie should be. And consequently, I suspect that that’s one that will come out significantly before Aquaman 2.”
He went on to confirm that the film will take place after the events of the first Aquaman movie, and that Aquaman and Mera will not appear in it. Safran also said that The Trench and the future DC films that they are developing will draw from how the The Conjuring franchise is handled:
“We’ve definitely taken a page from our Conjuring playbook, which is: You’ve got the mothership, which is Aquaman, but there are so many great stories to tell within that universe of itself, that Atlantean universe.”
Safran then added:
“We think that there’s a great sequel and beyond to tell. We introduce seven kingdoms of Atlantis, right? James Wan knows the architecture, the armory, the military, the look, the feel, the general vibe of each of these kingdoms, and I’m sure that there will be an opportunity to explore them in some way later on.”
I’m actually pretty stoked about the future of the DC films! I enjoyed Aquaman, Shazam! looks rad, that Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie will be interesting, Matt Reeves is making The Batman, and there are a few other flicks in development.
As for The Trench, I hope that it turns out to be a creepy-ass oceanic horror movie!