James Wan Sets the Record Straight on Amber Heard’s Role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Director James Wan has put to rest the speculations surrounding Amber Heard’s role in the upcoming movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He firmly denied that her character, Mera, was downsized due to her legal battles with Johnny Depp.
Wan, who directed the first Aquaman and helms the sequel, clarified that the decision to shift the focus to the supervillain Orm, played by Patrick Wilson, was planned from the start. He stated, “The first Aquaman was Arthur and Mera’s journey. The second movie was always going to be Arthur and Orm. The first was a romance action-adventure movie, the second one is a bromance action-adventure movie.”
Amber Heard had raised concerns in May 2022 about her role in the DC franchise being in jeopardy due to her court battle with Johnny Depp. She mentioned being unsure of her presence in the final cut of the film.
The dispute between Heard and Depp arose from a 2018 Washington Post article penned by Heard, detailing her alleged experiences as a domestic abuse survivor. In June 2022, the judge ruled in favor of Depp, and Heard was ordered to pay him $10.35 million in damages, after a reduction due to Virginia law.
Contrary to earlier reports that suggested her role was cut, the film’s trailer, exclusively presented at CinemaCon, revealed that Amber Heard does have a cameo, appearing in a battle scene.
Aquaman 2 faced other controversies since its announcement in 2021, including delays due to COVID-19 and reshoots. Director James Wan acknowledged that reshoots are common in the industry, emphasizing that scheduling conflicts with the star-studded cast necessitated the divided shooting schedule.
In conclusion, while rumors and controversies swirled around Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, James Wan affirmed that the movie’s creative direction and vision remain intact, assuring fans that they can look forward to a thrilling aquatic adventure on the big screen.