'Aquaman 2' has an official release date, but fans will have to wait longer than expected

Warner Bros.

"Aquaman"

• The "Aquaman" sequel is coming to theaters December 16, 2022, four years after the first movie.
• "Aquaman" shattered box-office expectations and grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

Aquaman is returning, but not any time soon.

Warner Bros. has set a release date of December 16, 2022 for the sequel to its blockbuster superhero movie, "Aquaman," four years after that movie came to theaters.

That's probably a longer wait than fans were expecting, but Warner Bros. wants to build its "Aquaman" universe in the meantime.

The studio is developing a spin-off horror movie focused on the Trench creatures seen in "Aquaman." The creatures are former Atlanteans who evolved into terrifying aquatic monsters.

"Aquaman" grossed over $1 billion worldwide and has given Warner Bros.' DC movie universe new life after "Justice League" bombed critically and financially in 2017.

Upcoming DC movies include "Shazam!" in April; "Joker" in October; a "Birds of Prey" movie starring Margot Robbie as her "Suicide Squad" character, Harley Quinn, next February; and "Wonder Woman 1984" next summer.