This week, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's libel lawsuit battle begins in Virginia, with the former seeking $50 million in damages from his ex-wife. Their divorce has been an extremely public one, with both Depp and Heard accusing each other of physical and emotional abuse. Fans of each actor have chosen a side online, but it's Depp whose career has suffered most thus far.
Warner Bros. dropped Depp from the Fantastic Beasts franchise shortly after he lost his battle with The Sun, but Heard has already shot her role as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. There had been vocal demands on social media that she be fired from the DC Extended Universe, but it's now been revealed that Heard was almost dropped from the franchise...for a totally different reason.
In a report from Puck, it's mentioned that Warner Bros. initially decided not to pick up Heard's sequel option despite Aquaman grossing over $1 billion in 2018. Why? Well, based on information that reportedly comes from a deposition from DC Films President Walter Hamada, it's said that there were concerns over her lack of chemistry with co-star Jason Momoa.
Heard's performance didn't receive the warmest of responses from fans or critics, and her legal team argues that she was unable to secure a fee increase for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom because of the scandal surrounding her relationship with Depp. The actress also claims she's been unable to book any lucrative roles or endorsements due to these ongoing issues.
With that in mind, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could be the last time we see Heard outside of a courtroom for a while, and we honestly wouldn't be shocked if Mera is killed off.
We'll find out when the sequel is released on March 17, 2023.