Aquaman 2 Director Tired Of Superhero Movies And Wants To Make Horror Movies Again
Legendary director James Wan recently revealed to Collider that he is itching to get back into the horror genre. Though he most recently worked on the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the Insidious director has expressed interest in going back to his roots, and getting under our skin with ghosts, ghouls, and playing into our fear of the unknown. And given his resume, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Wan will return to the Conjuring franchise, but we’re just speculating at this point in time.
Saw Launched James Wan’s Career
James Wan’s career kicked off when he co-created the Saw franchise back in 2004. Though he only directed the first film in the franchise, he has functioned as an executive producer on all of the subsequent sequels.
But his career truly lifted off into the stratosphere in the 2010s when he attached his name to both the Insidious and Conjuring franchises, both of which have been massively successful. The Conjuring franchise, which recently announced its finale in the form of The Conjuring: Last Rites, has not yet named a director. But given James Wan’s recent statement, we can’t help but wonder if he will return to helm the project.
Though no official announcement has been made at this point in time, James Wan would be a perfect fit for the latest, and supposedly final Conjuring film.
Aquaman 2 Inspired His Desire To Return To Horror
James Wan also suggested that the monsters in the new Aquaman movie gave him a chance to lean into the dark visual storytelling that kicked off his career. What’s more, Wan is currently functioning as a producer on a couple of upcoming horror properties, including the supernatural horror film Night Swim, which is slated for a January 2024 release. He’s also producing an adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, which is currently in the works, but has no release date as of this writing.
James Wan’s Horror Franchises
It goes without saying that James Wan helped revitalize the horror genre with The Conjuring and Insidious franchises in the 2010s. Now that he’s got some serious blockbusters under his belt, it’d be interesting to see what he can bring to the table if he returns to the genre. And if he ends up helming Last Rites, the Australian director could very well close out the franchise that he created.
The Conjuring Becomes An Expansive Universe
The Conjuring Universe has been a mainstay in the horror genre since its inception in 2013. To date, the franchise has earned over $2 billion at the global box office. But it’s also worth noting that there has been a dip in critical reception after the first two James Wan-directed films. If the franchise is truly closing out with its next installment, then it’s only fitting that Wan returns to helm the final project.
The DCEU Ends With Aquaman 2
Speaking of final projects, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will mark the end of the DCEU as we know it. With the upcoming DCU reboot, Aquaman’s future remains uncertain. But it has been rumored that Jason Momoa will shift gears, and take on the role of Lobo in future DC films. And if James Wan is truly done working on superhero movies for the time being, then we hope he circles back to the genre that kicked off his career in the first place.
