New reports about Amber Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom reveal the controversial actress may be in much more scenes than has been rumored. Amid the televised defamation trial involving Heard and ex-husband Johnny Depp, there were rumors that Heard's screen time had been heavily reduced, culminating in about 10 minutes total of scenes featuring Mera. Subsequent rumors have also suggested the studio may be cutting Mera from the film completely.However, at least for now, this does not seem to be the case. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been undergoing test screenings, and the word coming out of those (via Inside the Magic) is that Heard has around 20-25 minutes of screen time. If that's accurate, that would mean she has more than double what had been previously reported. It seems likely that the studio is testing the waters with Heard in the film, as removing her entirely could affect the movie's narrative structure while recasting her would cost millions upon millions of dollars in reshoots.
Aquaman 2 had also already been given a delay and isn't set to hit theaters until March 2023. Perhaps the brass at Warner Bros. are also hoping that the heat with Amber will die down after several months. For now, there are many Depp fans who don't seem happy about Heard keeping her spot in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, as #boycottaquaman2 has been trending as a result. It's safe to say there will be many people who won't watch the film if Heard is in it, but the big question is, how many people exactly will that be?
Amber Heard Came Up Short in Defamation Trial
The defamation trial did not turn out well for Amber Heard. A jury had determined that she fabricated domestic violence claims in order to tarnish Johnny Depp's career. Because those allegations had greatly affected Depp's career, many fans have been calling for Warner Bros. to cut Heard from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to make things right. It's not clear yet if that will ultimately happen, but Heard may have some trouble picking up other lucrative movie roles in the near future.
As for Depp, the actor has stated that he feels the trial cleared his name. He is also hoping to put it all behind him, recently releasing a statement calling for his supporters to move on to the next chapter together.
"To all of my most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters," Depp said in a statement posted online. "We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together. You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you. My love & respect, JD."
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