As you're probably aware, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are currently in the midst of a $50 million defamation lawsuit over allegations of domestic abuse from the actress that the Pirates of the Caribbean star says destroyed his career. Heard is counter-suing her ex-husband for $100 million, but the court of public opinion has definitely shifted in Depp's favour as more has been revealed.
It's been reported that Warner Bros. considered removing Heard's Mera from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom due to a "lack of chemistry," though something tells us there was more to it than that.
Regardless, a years-old petition on Change.org titled "Remove Amber Heard from Aquaman 2" has started picking up steam again, passing 2.3 million...and counting! The studio is well aware of the petition's existence as Aquaman producer Peter Safran was previously quoted as saying, "I don't think we're ever going to react to, honestly, pure fan pressure."
That's completely understandable, of course, but should Heard lose this case against Depp, things could change. Then again, the studio just touted new footage from The Flash at CinemaCon in the midst of a series of damaging allegations about actor Ezra Miller, so it appears they're not too reactive to negative headlines...unless it's firing Depp from the Fantastic Beasts franchise!
It's a messy situation all round, but the biggest losers here could be the fans. It seems doubtful that Mera will continue to play a big role in the DC Extended Universe after this sequel, which is a shame considering the character is key to Aquaman's story in the comic books.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to make a splash in theaters on March 17, 2023.