Warner Bros. Pictures executive Walter Hamada, who serves as President of the company's DC film and television division, confirms that the studio considered recasting Amber Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The actor initially made her DCEU debut in 2017's Justice League as Mera, the princess of the underwater kingdom of Xebel. She later reprised her role in Jason Momoa's solo outing, Aquaman. The actor is expected to return to the part in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom; however, the recent defamation trial brought against Heard by her former husband Johnny Depp over allegations of abuse has put her franchise future in question.
Following a libel lawsuit filed by Depp against the parent company of British tabloid The Sun in 2018 (which Depp lost) and his removal from the Harry Potter spin-off film series Fantastic Beasts, fans were calling for Heard to be removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as well, with millions signing a petition. The Depp v. Heard trial has revealed salacious details about the actors' relationship but also about how their ordeal has affected their professional work. Heard has claimed that as a result of her personal dispute with Depp, her role as Mera was significantly cut down from its initial size and that Warner Bros. wanted her removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom entirely.
While testifying virtually during the Depp v. Heard trial, Hamada (via The Wrap) has confirmed that the studio considered recasting Heard for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. However, Hamada explained, the reason for any casting changes was not because of Heard's personal affairs but because of a perceived lack of chemistry between her and Momoa in the previous film. Read what Hamada said below.
"It was the concerns that were brought up at the wrap of the first movie, which was the issue of chemistry, did the two have the chemistry? I think editorially they were able to make that relationship work in the first movie, but there was a concern that it took a lot of effort to get there and would we be better off recasting, finding someone who has better, more natural chemistry with Jason Momoa and move forward that way?"
Hamada confirmed that WB did reduce Heard's role as Mera in the sequel, but he rebuked the actor's claims that it was due to public backlash stemming from her battle with her ex-husband. Instead, the character's part was pared back as a result of ineffective cinematic chemistry between Heard and Momoa. Contradicting Heard's claims that she had to fight to stay in the film due to repercussions from her personal life, Hamada stayed firm that all actions taken by Warner Bros. in regard to Mera were purely editorial decisions to enhance their upcoming Aquaman sequel in an effort to make the best film possible.
Despite Hamada's assertions, Heard has been released from her contract with Warner Bros., leaving her future within the Aquaman franchise and the DCEU in question. Based on Mera's important relationship to Aquaman's character in the first film, both as a mentor and love interest, it's likely that WB intended Mera to have a relatively large part to play in the franchise's sequels. Hamada claims those plans were changed due to Heard and Momoa's on-screen chemistry, but the full extent of the changes will only be clear when Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters on March 17, 2023.
Source: The Wrap
