'Aquaman' release date pushed back to December 2018

March 17 (UPI) -- Warner Bros. says its Jason Momoa-led, superhero picture Aquaman is now set for theatrical release on Dec. 21, 2018.

The opening has been re-scheduled to more than two months after its former, planned debut of Oct. 5, 2018.

Deadline.com said the change came after James Cameron announced Avatar 2 would not be ready on the desirable Dec. 21, 2018 date, as expected.

"Merry Christmas," director James Wan tweeted after the new Aquaman date was announced.

Momoa first played Aquaman in a cameo in 2016's Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and he will next be seen in the role in this fall's Justice League.

The Aquaman standalone movie's ensemble will also include Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe and Patrick Wilson.