'Millions And Millions Of Dollars At Stake': Amber Heard Confesses Pressure With Her 'Aquaman 2' Return
Amber Heard, is opening up about her comeback to DC Studios following the widely covered legal dispute with her former husband, Johnny Depp. Her remarks come as anticipation builds for the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023). The anticipation for the upcoming Aquaman sequel goes beyond fans' eagerness to witness Jason Momoa's return as Arthur Curry. Many are intrigued to see how DC Studios will navigate the aftermath of the highly publicized feud between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, as their defamation case garnered global media attention. The curiosity lies in how the studio will handle the repercussions of this high-profile controversy.
Johnny Depp, renowned for his roles in beloved childhood classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Edward Scissorhands (1990), has long been associated with Disney and holds a special place in the hearts of fans. Consequently, when he accused his ex-wife of damaging his career, supporters rallied behind him. The culmination of their tumultuous relationship was the Depp v. Heard defamation trial, which took place last year.
In the trial, Heard alleged that Depp subjected her to verbal and physical abuse following their divorce in 2016, just over a year after their marriage. As a result of these accusations, Depp faced professional repercussions, including being virtually blacklisted from Hollywood and being dropped from major projects like Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. Following an explosive legal battle, Johnny Depp emerged victorious in his defamation trial against Amber Heard. The court awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages, along with an additional $5 million in punitive damages. In the aftermath of the trial, Heard faced relentless online hatred, including death threats. Subsequently, she relocated to Spain and has maintained a generally quiet presence, refraining from extensive public statements—until recently.
Amidst her prolonged silence, Amber Heard has finally spoken out about her return to the DC universe in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. In addition to discussing her involvement in the film, she addressed the significant pressure on big-budget superhero movies to perform well, particularly in light of recent box-office disappointments such as Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam (2022).
In an interview with Deadline, Heard expressed her optimism and high expectations for the multi-million dollar project: "Oh, of course. These are very different kinds of projects representing two very different ends of the spectrum in my industry. There’s a ton of pressure on these big franchise movies, with millions and millions of dollars at stake, and compromises are part of trying to make it the most successful thing it can be. Then on the other end of the spectrum is a small indie film like In The Fire, a work of art and work of love, with nowhere near the same resources, and so there are compromises there. The best luck you can have as an actor is to be able to balance both."
Heard's comeback to Hollywood marks a significant milestone for the actor, considering the various considerations and implications associated with a movie involving a controversial figure. Despite the challenges, Heard expressed her gratitude and stated that she felt honored to be part of the esteemed DCEU franchise.“And then there are these small passion projects like In The Fire, where I’m proud to have gotten to know the filmmaker and the cast, and we got dirty together, to breathe life into this story. There’s something cool about that, and I think success is an actor who is able to have both those things," she said.
The extent of Amber Heard's portrayal of Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is yet to be determined. However, it is evident that DC could benefit from any assistance they can receive.
