Aquaman

Amber Heard was paid $2 million for the second "Aquaman" film while Jason Momoa enjoyed a $12 million raise.

Meanwhile, Heard has countersued for $100 million for nuisance. Entertainment industry expert Kathryn Arnold testified in the defamation trial of Johnny Depp v. Heard previously testified that she had to "fight really hard" to keep her role in the franchise due to the negative press about her and her involvement in the previous libel trial with Depp.

The actor, who played Princess Mera in the 2018 DC movie, is being sued by Depp for $50m (£39.7m) for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed.

She added that her contract said she would make $2m (£1.6m) for the second film. “I fought really hard to stay in the movie. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. They just removed a bunch.” Although she didn’t name him, he claims her allegations impacted his ability to work. During her testimony last week, Heard claimed Warner Bros “didn’t want to include me” in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, adding that her role in the sequel was cut down after Depp’s team called her initial abuse claims a “hoax”.

Amber Heard witness appears to give away 'Aquaman 2' spoilers during Johnny Depp defamation trial · A witness in Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's trial appeared to ...

In the "Aquaman" comics, Aquaman and Mera do have a child together called Arthur Curry Jr., or Aquababy. However, producer Peter Safran told Deadline that "fan pressure" wouldn't affect a decision on whether to fire Heard. Depp is suing Heard over a Washington Post op-ed she wrote in 2018, describing herself as a victim of domestic abuse.

Walter Hamada, the head of DC Films, testified that the studio considered recasting Heard's role in 'Aquaman 2' due to poor chemistry.

Heard has alleged that her role was “pared down” considerably over time, but Hamada testified it has remained static since the film was first developed in 2018. Heard was paid $1 million for the first “Aquaman,” and $2 million for the sequel. “They didn’t have a lot of chemistry together,” Hamada said.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may replace Mera with Dolphin from the Peter David Aquaman run, all thanks to the toxicity surrounding Amber Heard.

This truly would reverse Dolphin's introduction to Aquaman in the comics, as well as permanently get rid of the much more popular Mera in the movies. To set the stage for Dolphin and rid itself of Amber Heard, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom may kill off Mera. This will allow Dolphin, who's to be introduced in the film anyway, to take over as the love interest. While this sounds problematic, given how much fans like the character of Mera outside of Amber Heard, but it's in many ways for the best. There are other versions of Peter David's Dolphin, such as the one more recently introduced into mainstream DC continuity via Rebirth. This version is a true Atlantean, albeit with a mutation that gives her fish-like, scaly hands. Dolphin may have swum into obscurity after her inaugural run, but she was once an immensely vital part of the Aquaman mythos. Aquaman's love interest, Mera, is seemingly being sidelined due to behind-the-scenes drama, with her replacement being someone from Aquaman's most popular era in the comics.

Entertainment consultant Kathryn Arnold testified on the DC star's behalf during the ongoing defamation Amber Heard is involved in with ex-husband Johnny ...

Reports surfaced yesterday that Momoa, 42, allegedly defended Heard to keep her role in the sequel. “They just removed a bunch out.” “She ends up in the hospital early in this new ‘Aquaman 2’ movie and doesn’t really come out until the end to kind of wrap things up.

Industry consultant Kathryn Arnold testifies that Jason Momoa and Aquaman 2 director James Wan fought to keep Amber Heard in the DC movie.

Arnold's testimony that Momoa and Wan fought to keep Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom does align with most of the actress' claims during the trial. Only time will tell how the trial has truly effected her role in the film when Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters on March 17, 2023. Development on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has seen a rollercoaster of starts and stops with Wan wanting to take his time to develop the sequel rather than deliver a rushed product and having to work around the COVID-19 pandemic during production.

In the ongoing Depp–Heard trial, an expert testified that Momoa and director James Wan were “adamant” that Heard remain in the film.

“In the public, it’s been very negative,” replied Arnold. “In the industry, they like her work but they can’t work with her right now. “Her world has been silent in terms of opportunities,” she continued. She claimed that her role of Mera, the warrior princess and love interest to Aquaman (and future wife according to the DC comics), was “a very pared-down version” of what she had initially signed on to do following her legal battles with Depp. “They basically took a bunch out of my role,” Heard said on the stand. “They just removed a bunch out.” Because every time her name is mentioned, the negativity flares up again.” Arnold’s testimony supports Heard’s version of events.

DC Films chief Walter Hamada testified Amber Heard was almost booted from Aquaman sequel, but that Johnny Depp's abuse allegations were not why.

He also said that filming the sequel with Heard went smoothly. “The reality is it’s not uncommon on movies for two leads to not have chemistry and it’s sort of movie magic and editorial — the ability to put performances with the magic of a great score and how you put the pieces together, you can fabricate that chemistry. They just removed a bunch.” … This one was more difficult because of lack of chemistry between the two.” “They didn’t have a lot of chemistry together,” Hamada said. I got dropped from a campaign I had shot.

During the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial, Warner Bros. acknowledged how it talked about a recast for Mera.

In fact, many seemed to enjoy Heard’s time as Mera and wanted to see more of her. ‘Did the two have chemistry?’ I think editorially, they were able to make that relationship work in the first movie, but there was a concern that it took a lot of effort to get to there and would we be better off recasting, finding someone who had better, more natural chemistry with Jason Momoa and move forward that way.” Hamada also confirmed that "[they] did not" take any official steps to audition any replacements. Despite Depp feeling the blowback, Heard has not yet been publically outside of any projects. The feud has quickly become one of the biggest within Hollywood in recent memory. The Pirates of the Caribbean star claimed that Heard is not the victim of domestic violence but the perpetrator––and how the original news article claiming abuse was a ruse to garner the actress positive press.

DC Films Head Says Amber Heard Was Almost Recast in 'Aquaman' Over Chemistry Issues, Not Johnny Depp Allegations · Walter Hamada said some “movie magic” was ...

Hamada noted that Heard’s performance in Aquaman was well-received at early test screenings, despite the chemistry issues. Hamada testified that he had spoken with Aquaman producer Rob Cowan about the lack of chemistry between Heard and Mamoa as they shot the 2018 film. He was called as a witness by Depp’s team in part to counter some of Heard’s own testimony last week.

Walter Hamada, the high-powered head of DC Films, testified Tuesday that Amber Heard's role in "Aquaman 2" was in no way impacted by innuendo surrounding ...

“The character’s involvement in the story was sort of what it was from the beginning.” “I think editorially they were able to make that relationship work in the first movie,” the movie boss stated. They just removed a bunch out,” Heard testified last week.

Walter Hamada claimed that the 'Aquaman' co-stars' chemistry had to edited with movie magic.

"It was the concerns that were brought up at the wrap of the first movie, production of the first movie, which was the issue of chemistry. "... The movie was always pitched as a buddy comedy between Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson." Sometimes it's very easy, you just put the characters on the screen together and they work, and sometimes it's harder." "I think editorially they were able to make that relationship work in the first movie, but there was a concern that it took a lot of effort to get there. Hamada, President of DC-based film productions for Warner Bros., said that, in pre-production for the second film, which is due out next year, there was a weeks-long period where the studio considered recasting Heard's role. Amber Heard and Jason Momoa's Aquaman chemistry was allegedly fabricated thanks to a bit of movie magic.

Warner Bros. Studios DC Films head Walter Hamada has confirmed that the company considered recasting Amber Heard for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Despite Hamada's assertions, Heard has been released from her contract with Warner Bros., leaving her future within the Aquaman franchise and the DCEU in question. Heard has claimed that as a result of her personal dispute with Depp, her role as Mera was significantly cut down from its initial size and that Warner Bros. wanted her removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom entirely. Following a libel lawsuit filed by Depp against the parent company of British tabloid The Sun in 2018 (which Depp lost) and his removal from the Harry Potter spin-off film series Fantastic Beasts, fans were calling for Heard to be removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as well, with millions signing a petition.

In court Tuesday, an executive said the studio considered recasting the role of Mera because Amber Heard and Jason Momoa lacked 'chemistry.'

“But I just know that through the course of postproduction, it took a lot of effort to get there.” The Mera character had first appeared in 2017’s “Justice League,” and Warner Bros. had an option to keep Heard in the role. “The reality is, it’s not uncommon in a lot of movies for two leads to not have chemistry. I got dropped from a campaign I had shot. “I got canceled from jobs. It’s sort of movie magic ... to sort of put performances together with the magic [of] a great score,” the executive said.

Aquaman star Jason Momoa and director James Wan wanted to keep Amber Heard in the upcoming sequel, Aquaman 2.

This one was more difficult because of lack of chemistry between the two.” “At the end of the day when you watch the movie, it looks like they have great chemistry,” he explained. “But I just know that through the course of postproduction, it took a lot of effort to get there. Sometimes you just put characters together on the screen and they work. So, they may not have hired her again,” Arnold said. “Her management team fought very hard, and they ultimately ended up hiring her, but not only because of what her management did, but also because star Jason Momoa and director James Wan committed to her.”

Walter Hamada -- WarnerMedia's head honcho for all things DC movies these days -- sat for a deposition that was played in court by Johnny's team Tuesday ...

But, Hamada says ... not so. In fact, he even gives a little insight into what 'Aquaman 2' is going to look like -- and who's been propped up as the co-lead opposite Jason Momoa. Spoiler alert ... it ain't Amber, but WH says that was always the plan from the jump. Warner's DC Chief Amber in 'Aquaman 2' Not Affected by Depp Chatter DC Chief Says Amber Heard's Role in 'Aquaman 2' Not Affected by Depp Amber Heard's participation in 'Aquaman 2' -- however minimal it may end up being -- had absolutely nothing to do with Johnny Depp ... so says the guy who heads up DC Films. Amber's attorneys have trotted out witnesses who've suggested Amber lost not just a big part in the movie, but big money that should've come with it ... in the form of a renegotiation upon the success of its predecessor, which they say is SOP in the movie biz.

Walter Hamada testified in court Tuesday that Heard's dispute with ex-husband Johnny Depp did not impact her role or pay in the "Aquaman" sequel.

Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate instances of physical abuse she says she suffered at Depp’s hands. "It was all concerns about whether she was the right fit of casting for the movie," he said. "Arthur being Jason Momoa and Orm being Patrick Wilson, so they were always the two co-leads of the movie." She had already ruled Depp could be held responsible for statements made by his lawyer, a principle Depp’s team disputes. No other actresses were auditioned for the part of Mera, Hamada said. Heard’s lawyers had initially suggested they would call Depp as a witness but ultimately opted against it.

Aquaman director James Wan discusses his canceled spinoff movie The Trench and the possibility of reworking its horror concepts into another project.

Canceling a promising spinoff like The Trench is one example of this and an especially curious decision given how successful Aquaman and many of Wan's projects are. While Aquaman 2 will likely revisit the Kingdom of the Trench, Wan seems to be referring to one of his standalone horror projects, his most recent of which is Malignant. After getting his start in the world of horror, Wan transitioned to big-budget action blockbusters with Furious 7 in 2015 and followed that up with his entry into the DC Extended Universe in 2018.

Director James Wan isn't ruling out aborted 'Aquaman' spinoff movie 'The Trench' coming back in a different form.

We don’t know much about what Wan’s “drawer full of ideas” for The Trench consisted of, but the filmmaker has previously teased that it might’ve actually featured a popular Aquaman character in a major role. That’s my problem, is I come up with a lot of ideas and I have so many ideas just percolating, but obviously, I can’t use all of them. Following Aquaman‘s phenomenal box office performance over Christmas 2018, it was quickly announced that Warner Bros. had commissioned director James Wan to helm a spinoff.