Jason Momoa's 'Aquaman' gets a new script writer, based on a draft by Geoff Johns

Warner Bros. hired multiple writers to pen Aquaman scripts, and late last year it was reported that David Leslie Johnson, who wrote director James Wan's movie The Conjuring 2, would be writing the superhero script for him as well. Now, The Hollywood Reporter says that Warner Bros. is going in a different direction.

Will Beall, who wrote 2013's Gangster Squad, is now the man who will be writing the Aquaman script. This time however, he is working off a detailed treatment from director James Wan and DC's Geoff Johns, The Hollywood Reporter says.

It seems like as part of his new position as the head of DC Films, Geoff Johns will be very involved in the movie scripts. It was just recently announced that he co-wrote the Wonder Woman script as well.

What do you make of this Aquaman news? Let me know in the comments below.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter

60 comments

Jcool

July 22, 2016

The guy who wrote such a bad Justice League script WB had a hard time finding a director and ended up scraping the whole thing.

residentgrigo
July 22, 2016
Justice League Mortal https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
had different people attached, what do you mean? It gets a documentary treatment soon btw. Can´t wait.
http://www.flickeringmyth.c...
1. Worlds Finest Comments
  July 22, 2016
  That was George Miller's Justice League. The one Beal was involved with was a different one...
  1. residentgrigo
    July 22, 2016
    Please link, i can´t keep them apart anymore.
    Edit: Fond it: http://collider.com/justice...
    1. Worlds Finest Comments
      July 22, 2016
      http://collider.com/justice...
    2. residentgrigo
      July 22, 2016
      We used the same link. Sounds like the 1st New52 arc to me. That toon adaptation was a mess.
    3. Worlds Finest Comments
      July 22, 2016
      Posted it before you added the edit, sorry.
      But they are 2 completely separate JL movies.
    4. residentgrigo
      July 22, 2016
      The budget for all these train wrecks will add up to JL 2017´s total cost. Superman Returns was burdened with the same crap after all, not that it was good anyway.
2. That Other Guy
  July 22, 2016
  That's from the other failed Justice League film, not the one Beal was involved with that was going to be part of the DCEU...

OGDickGrayson

July 22, 2016

This makes me far more hyped for this. Johns work on Aquaman was fantastic.

Lotusland Comics

July 22, 2016

Beall doesn't inspire a ton of confidence but under Johns maybe he'll be okay.

Memorian

July 22, 2016

hmmm... I don't really understand... but why does WB keep hiring these writers with very little credits and the credits they do have doesn't inspire much confidence or hope. I'm glad Geoff Johns is involved in some capacity but beyond Wan directing I don't see much to be excited about with this news.

Also this guy is responsible for writing a bad enough Justice League script in 2013 that got rejected and was so poorly received they weren't even able to get a director attached to the film.

Memorian
July 22, 2016
Aquaman is a great character, I don't see why someone wouldn't.
1. DoctorSax
  July 22, 2016
  Your positive attitude continues.

Alex Vidal

July 22, 2016

Not a good choice in my opinion, but with Johns on.. well after the New 52 Aquaman, he sure as hell could make this an amazing movie.

Kerk Lastnameless
July 22, 2016
Thant's the spirit!
Alex Vidal
July 23, 2016
Hahaha, I can already hear it coming from honest trailers. Although I am n to going to lie, Aquaman is one of my favorite comic book heroes. Not my favorite, but definitely one of them. So I actually am excited for this!

Canucks Fan

July 22, 2016

Let us see how many times people bring up the same event in this writers career

Not going to research any of these writers that DC/WB gets to be honest but under Geoff Johns i won't be worried about any DC film he's involved in going forward

residentgrigo

July 22, 2016

It´s basically impossible that Geoff Johns is doing all of this due to his position inside WB overall but fine, have your propaganda DC. Zack´s name may end up on it, he set up the character´s journey, as with WW.
Will Beall is the "actual" writer here while being attached to a Lethal Weapon reboot. Ok, why not, i guess.
The "hiring multiple writers to develop scripts simultaneously" explains why the film isn´t as far along as it could be. Still, in James Wan i trust.
PS: Flash, Aquaman and certainly Green Lantern are close to Geoff´s heart, so elements of his runs should show up in those films.

JJ
July 23, 2016
Snyder has no idea what's going on. He didn't "set Aquaman on his journey."
1. residentgrigo
  July 23, 2016
  Look up what the script of JL is about, who cast him (!) and decided to go 90s.
OGmacrazy
July 23, 2016
What is actually impossible is for a director like Snyder to be directing and working on JL, while "producing" and "setting up" all these solo movies on his own. Thank god WB changed the direction they were going for. They basically dug a hole and now are desperately trying to crawl out of it.
1. Orion
  July 23, 2016
  Who told you WB changed their direction? LOL
  1. OGmacrazy
    July 23, 2016
    WB, when they changed the direction for this universe...
    1. Orion
      July 23, 2016
      Can have a little more detail to that?
    2. OGmacrazy
      July 23, 2016
      What do you think bringing George Miller as a producer on JL was for? What do you think they were doing when they made changes on the level of executives with Jon Berg and Geoff Johns being the people in charge of this universe (when prior to BvS releasing to terrible reviews and under performing at the box office, there was no one besides Zack Snyder doing whatever he wanted)? Making Ben Affleck an executive producer on JL? Geoff Johns now helping write most movies? They are trying to minimize the fallout of BvS, and changing it up so that Zack Snyder isn't the one who is leading this universe. They were definitely late, but at least they did something.
    3. Orion
      July 23, 2016
      Thought so. WB said nothing and just added goodbye.
    4. OGmacrazy
      July 23, 2016
      Well, nothing beats a "I need people to tell me everything and I can't take context and hints for shit" mentality.
    5. Orion
      July 23, 2016
      I don't need help I can figure shit out myself. You're just reaching.
    6. OGmacrazy
      July 25, 2016
      Yet you can't or refuse to refute any and all of my arguments. I really like discussing these things, but ya'll get way too defensive and personal, and way too fast.
    7. Orion
      July 25, 2016
      Well considering your arguments are based on speculation there isn't much to discuss.

Worlds Finest Comments

July 22, 2016

How many projects has Beal been involved with at this point? (In Regina George voice) Warner Bros, quit trying to make Beal happen, he's not going to happen!

IamTheOneWhoKnocks

July 22, 2016

Did not like Gangster Squad....anyways, hope things work out for this movie...still years away, so a lot can change.

Bill Agans
July 22, 2016
Gangster squad?

Kerk Lastnameless

July 22, 2016

Don't know much about writing a movie, but you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen.

IamTheOneWhoKnocks

July 22, 2016

I think the problem with this movie is that it is going to need a very big budget, as the underwater scenes have to look very real. This is risky due to being Aquaman, as most casual fans think he is a joke. I hope he is a central part of a couple movies to see how the general audience feel before making such commitment.

BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump
July 22, 2016
He needs this so they can showcase just how vital and important he is to the league and this universe going forward..
#unitethe7
1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
  July 22, 2016
  Exactly...completely agree.
  1. BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump
    July 22, 2016
    https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
    Hope we get her..
    1. Alan Conn
      July 23, 2016
      Yes but hopefully not this version. :/ Hahaha
    2. ernest schoenmakers
      July 23, 2016
      Well i don't think so, Snyder blew it with Malone, why would we ger her now maybe in the future.
IamTheOneWhoKnocks
July 22, 2016
Definitely!
JJ
July 23, 2016
I hope James Wan does. I hope Snyder falls off of a cliff.

Kryptonian Knight

July 22, 2016

Easy to look at this as a negative but I see it as a positive and that Geoff Johns is doing what he was hired to do. The good news is James Wan is still directing and Geoff has a great vision of Aquaman.

Black Adam

July 22, 2016

Geoff Johns = Kevin Faige. One guy who will supervise everything. That's good.

John Johnson
July 22, 2016
Right there with ya! I think DC will benefit from a prominent comic writer helming the ship.
Axxell
July 22, 2016
Feige*

Ace20xd6

July 22, 2016

What was wrong with Kurt Johnson's script?

Brandon Smith

July 22, 2016

let's be a little cautious that's all i'm saying.

grayghost84

July 22, 2016

Why?

Caped Baldy

July 22, 2016

Headline is a bit misleading,Im sure you could have squeezed Ben Affleck's name in there as well if it was the Batman script in question.It's never too late to add James Wan.Make batman-News great again Chris

OmegaCorleone

July 22, 2016

Wan is going to crush it, Conjuring 2 was intense AF
Momoa will rule the screen

Cmike

July 22, 2016

He was involved in those to buddy, especially BVS. But hey I luv both movies anyway. You better gear up dude

OptimistPrime99

July 22, 2016

Yes sir! It's all about collaboration and teamwork. With Johns helping EVERY DCEU writer and director, get characterization and story more inline with the comics.

Ravager

July 22, 2016

Geoff Johns. Aquaman is in good hands.

Bernard BammyWam

July 23, 2016

Uhm, this is super worrisome in my opinion. I know having Geoff Johns creating the Draft of the story aspire confidence, him tackling Aquaman was one of the few bright spot of new 52 and he really knows how to make aquaman Bad-Ass. However; it is making me nervous that you take out the writer who has worked with your director for 2 of your horror project and hiring a complete unknown. Gangster squad was not good, but I did like some of his castle episode that he wrote. I just hope it translate the way the Russo's did. In Geoff Johns I believe, but he is only co writing it which makes me scared. I hope he has a lot of power over Warner Brothers right now, so if a writer alters his draft not to his liking he can just tell WB to scrap him.

Alan Conn

July 23, 2016

Still have fsith but was interested in what the horror writer couldve done.

towblerone

July 23, 2016

I'm so ready. Cannot wait for Wan to show us some deep sea monstrosities.

OGmacrazy

July 23, 2016

It's never a good sign when a movie has so many different writers writing so many re writes... Hopefully, Johns and Wan won't disappoint, though the guy who wrote Gangster Squad isn't exactly ideal... Damn, WB. Get your shit together already!

Sense

July 23, 2016

Geoff is the captain of the ship now and he's making stuff happen.

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Jason Momoa's 'Aquaman' gets a new script writer, based on a draft by Geoff Johns

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