WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for director James Wan's Aquaman, in theaters now.

Will there be a sequel to Aquaman? That will be a fascinating story to follow as the movie finds the kind of success that would normally make it a no-brainer. Unfortunately, the movie takes place in whatever is left of the DC Extended Universe, so it's hard to say what Warner Bros. will decide to do. Regardless of what ends up happening, the movie very much sets up the franchise for the next film.

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Wary viewers will be happy to know that Aquaman tells one complete story. There is no setup for a Justice League sequel, no cliffhanger ending and very little connection to Zack Snyder's epic storyline that carried through three different films. That being said, once everything is said and done, you can see where the movie leaves off for the inevitable Aquaman sequel.

What Happens After the Return of the King?

As the firstborn son of Queen Atlanna, Arthur Curry is the rightful heir to the throne of Atlantis. Unfortunately, Aquaman has only ever lived in exile. Meanwhile, his half-brother Orm prepares to lead the underwater kingdom against the surface world. In order to stop him, Mera and Vulko recruit Arthur to unseat Orm. This is the central conflict of the film, and the movie ends once this issue is resolved.

After multiple battles and a long quest to achieve the power to defeat his half-brother, Aquaman takes control of Atlantis and stops a deadly war before it can ever happen. Aquaman doesn't actually become the official king of Atlantis until the very end of the movie, so we don't get to see what he does with the title. This, of course, would have to be covered in the sequel.

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While no one is likely interested in the bureaucratic process of the lost city of Atlantis, it would be great to see what kind of ruler Arthur turns out to be. Do the common people -- who are never really seen in the film -- support his rule? How does he adapt to being a leader, and how much better off are the Atlantians now that Orm is gone? These are all things to explore in later films.

Perhaps as Arthur meets the people he is now in charge of, he begins to grow as a leader and finally learns to believe in something. Once Aquaman truly comes to understand what he has fought so hard to achieve, he can finally embrace his heritage and make the world a better place. From there, the sequel can introduce the conflict our hero is meant to battle, whether that be from inside Atlantis or from the surface world that threatens it.

Where the Movie Leaves the Villain

While the film ultimately has two villains, the only one that truly matters to the central conflict is Orm. After a hard fought battle, Aquaman is able to finally defeat his half-brother, take his rightful place on the throne and stop a potentially devastating war, but it all doesn't end as cleanly as you might think. Orm survives and his story goes on.

Orm may be the big bad of this film, but he's ultimately established to be a very complicated character. He's cruel and maniacal in his plans to consolidate power under the seas, but it's made clear that he does only what he feels he must. He has no interest in killing Arthur, and even offers to spare him if he returns to the surface world. He also feels betrayed when he realizes Mera has rejected him.

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On top of all this, Orm is very much a man who has been hardened by the influence of his father and the absence of his mother. Believing Atlanna to be dead, he believes the surface world is the reason he no longer has her in his life. When she is revealed to still be alive, it seems to soften him, and may have even purged some of the hatred he kept inside.

When Atlanna shows up to support Arthur's claim to the throne, she does it not because she hates her other son, but actually because she loves him. She explains that Orm's father poisoned him and turned him against the surface world. In the end, it's not his fault that he's a bad king, and despite how far he has fallen, he can still rise up.

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It's this path of redemption we could see in a potential Aquaman sequel. Following Aquaman's victory, he maintains contact with his brother. Though Orm will be imprisoned for everything he has done, it doesn't mean everything he has done was bad. Free of the burdens placed on him, we may actually find a hero hidden under all that royal bluster.

A Post-Credits Scene With a Vengeance

Black Manta in Aquaman

The conflict between Aquaman and Black Manta is a deeply personal one, and it's not likely to be settled until one of them is dead. Unfortunately for Arthur Curry, Manta is not dead yet.

Arthur Curry is directly responsible for the death of Manta's father, so the villain is only interested in plain, old fashioned revenge. Aquaman comes to understand that part of discovering yourself is learning to identify your mistakes, and his past actions have created a monster.

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Defeated and mangled, the film's post-credits scene reveals Manta is left adrift in the ocean until Dr. Stephen Shin finds him. Manta is nursed back to health by a doctor who has an unhealthy obsession with Atlantis. The two then agree to go to Atlantis in order to take everything the underwater kingdom has to offer.

Despite all his triumphs, Aquaman will have to answer for his past crimes. It would only be appropriate if Atlantis comes under threat thanks to the king's decisions. If this plotline is continued over in the sequel, we could see some kind of invasion of Atlantis. Black Manta will be out for revenge and Shin could attempt to steal the power and knowledge of an advanced civilization.

Aquaman provides us with everything we need to imagine what a sequel will be like. By the end of the first film, we know exactly where the story could go. Black Manta knows where Atlantis is, and he will be coming for Arthur Curry with everything he has. Now that Aquaman has built himself a life under the ocean, can he and Orm work together to protect everything they hold dear? We'll have to wait and see.

Directed by James Wan, Aquaman stars Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, and Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna.