After identifying herself in a 2018 op-ed as a symbolising domestic abuse, Hollywood star Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, Aquaman star Amber Heard, for defamation. Depp v. Heard has become a worldwide sensation, with millions of people watching the trial live and wondering what the outcome would mean for both sides in the future. The defamation case was finally resolved, with a jury awarded Depp $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, and Heard $2 million.
Heard is now filming most of her sequences in London for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, in which she will reprise her role as Mera. Despite the fact that many fans favour Depp in the trial, co-star Dolph Lundgren recently came out in support of her after working with her for the second time under Warner Bros. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to release on March 17, 2023.
Following a meeting with Warner Bros. higher-ups, Amber Heard’s sequences as Mera are slated to be cut from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, according to trustworthy insider KC Walsh. Mera may die during childbirth at the opening of the sequel, according to Walsh’s claim, but the sequel’s next test screening will be telling. After being a prominent star in the first picture, Heard admitted during the trial against Johnny Depp that her role had already been slashed.
In addition to fighting their defamation cases in a Virginia court, the former couple had to contend with the court of public opinion. In the wake of Depp’s trial, an online petition to get Heard removed from Aquaman 2 is approaching a million signatures. Fans of Johnny Depp began a petition on Change, after he was asked to leave his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Given her ongoing role as Mera in the DCEU, they wanted to see Amber Heard dismissed by Warner Bros. as well. And now that Depp has won his case in court, the petition is gaining even more traction. In fact, it’s rapidly approaching 5 million views.
In 2018’s Aquaman, Amber Heard’s Mera had more screen time than practically anyone else as Jason Momoa’s on-screen love interest. Fans of the series may be disappointed by her absence, especially if it’s due to an off-screen death that prohibits her from appearing in the film at all. The film allegedly wrapped main photography earlier this year, but with less than a year until its release, reshoots to tie up loose ends are a distinct possibility.
If this rumour is true, Warner Bros. evidently believes that Heard’s appearance will affect the film’s overall box office, as many people did not support her during the trial. Removing her from the sequel might also preclude her from participating in any marketing or publicity for the film. Heard is also not the main character in Aquaman 2.