'Gangster Squad' writer Will Beall to pen script for 'Aquaman'

SAN DIEGO, July 25 (UPI) -- Gangster Squad screenwriter Will Beall has signed on to pen Warner Bros. and DC Comics upcoming underwater actioner Aquaman.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Beall has rejoined the project after having developed a script previously and will now be working off of a detailed treatment from director James Wan and famed comic book writer and the current head of DC's film slate Geoff Johns.

As Aquaman entered into development, Warner Bros. hired multiple screenwriters simultaneously to develop scripts including Kurt Johnstad and Wan's Conjuring 2 writer David Leslie Johnson.

The film, starring Jason Momoa as The King of the Seven Seas, is due in theaters July 27, 2018 and also stars Amber Heard as Queen Mera, Aquaman's powerful love interest.

Fans got their first look at Momoa as Aquaman Saturday in the first trailer for Justice League that featured the Atlantis native teaming up with Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher). The clip was released during Warner Bros. Hall H presentation at the San Diego Comic-Con.

Wan spoke about his plans for Aquaman at the convention noting, "I love the fact that [Aquaman's] never really been portrayed in the feature movie world before." The horror film director also stated how he was excited to have "the opportunity to explore this universe and bring a bit of my horror element into this, the deep sea, the scary world, and then also explore the wondrous world of Atlantis."