Aquaman 2 Almost Replaced Amber Heard Due to Chemistry Concerns with Jason Momoa
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom reportedly came close to replacing Amber Heard, but not because of her legal battle with Johnny Depp.
A new report has claimed that Aquaman star Amber Heard was almost not brought back for the upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, due to concerns over her chemistry with lead actor Jason Momoa. The report, which comes via Puck, details information taken from a deposition with DC Films President Walter Hamada which will be part of the defamation trial involving Amber Heard’s ex-husband and Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp.
The news that Heard was almost replaced for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but was eventually brought back to reprise the role of Mera, is sure to come as a disappointment to those who wanted to see the role recast. A Change.org petition calling for Heard to be fired from the Aquaman sequel reached over one million supporters, with fans taking to social media to suggest several actresses who they believed would work better alongside Jason Momoa. The clear frontrunner being his Game of Thrones co-star Emilia Clarke.
Of course, despite these chemistry concerns, Heard will return for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. However, the report goes on to state that the actress was unable to negotiate a fee increase due to the ongoing scandal and legal issues between herself and Depp. Heard also claims that she has been unable to book any high-profile roles outside of the Aquaman franchise, which she blames on the legal battles currently taking place, with the report stating that "expert testimony could back up her claim."
The personal and legal issues between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp have been going on since all the way back in 2016, when Heard divorced the actor as well as taking out a temporary restraining order against him. Heard accused Depp of being verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship, usually while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Depp has since lost one libel case in the UK, which led to him vacating the role of Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. The actor has filed another libel lawsuit, this time against Amber Heard herself, with Depp suing the actress over her op-ed in The Washington Post. Depp is reportedly seeking $50 million in damages from Heard, with the court proceedings set to be broadcast on Court TV.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Will See Amber Heard Return to the World of DC Alongside Jason Momoa
Directed by James Wan from a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom sees Jason Momoa return as Arthur Curry AKA Aquaman alongside Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman.
Not much has yet been revealed about the sequel, but a recent synopsis has offered some clues. "When an ancient power is unleashed, Aquaman must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to protect Atlantis, and the world, from irreversible devastation," the brief logline reads.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was originally set for release on December 16, 2022, but was recently delayed and will now land in theaters on March 17, 2023.
