Amber Heard’s involvement in the sequel was uncertain due to her high-profile trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp last year.
At CinemaCon, Warner Bros unveiled the first trailer for DC’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, starring Jason Momoa as the underwater superhero. Reports from the event indicate that Amber Heard’s character, Mera, makes a short appearance.
Heard’s participation in the sequel was unclear during her high-profile defamation trial against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, last year. Deadline reported that Heard does have a cameo in the trailer, specifically in a battle scene.
During the trial, Heard claimed her role in the film was reduced after Depp’s legal team labelled her abuse allegations a “hoax.” However, DC film head Walter Hamada testified in court that Heard’s diminished screen time was due to a lack of chemistry with Momoa, not the allegations against Depp.
A petition to remove Heard from Aquaman 2 entirely garnered over 4.5 million signatures amidst the trial. Aquaman remains DC’s highest-grossing movie, earning $1.1 billion worldwide.
Depp ultimately won his multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Heard, with the jury finding her 2018 Washington Post article defamatory. Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, the latter reduced to $350,000 due to a statutory cap. Heard received $2 million in damages from a counterclaim against Depp, as his lawyer’s “hoax” claim was also ruled defamatory.
Dolph Lundgren, Heard’s co-star in the Aquaman franchise, spoke positively of working with her, describing her as “kind” and “down to earth.” Fans also noticed that Momoa started following Depp on Instagram during the trial.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to premiere in US theatres on December 25 and in the UK on December 29.
The upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom release has generated significant buzz, partly due to the controversy surrounding Amber Heard’s involvement. Fans have expressed mixed reactions to her brief appearance in the trailer, with some supporting her continued role in the franchise and others disappointed by her presence.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, directed by James Wan, will see the return of several cast members from the first film, including Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The movie is expected to explore new territories within the underwater kingdom and introduce audiences to previously unseen aspects of the DC Universe.
As anticipation for the film’s release continues to grow, it remains to be seen how Heard’s involvement will affect the overall reception of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if the film can surpass the success of its predecessor despite the ongoing controversy.
