Amber Heard's role as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was reportedly cut down due to the controversy surrounding the star. Now, a new report details everything from Heard's relations with her Aquaman 2 co-stars to the company’s decision to keep her on the project following fan outcry.

After the first Aquaman movie's success, Heard would be confirmed to return for the film’s sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. However, she suffered some setbacks in the public eye after being sued for defamation by her ex-husband Johnny Depp, whom she accused of abuse. The ensuing trial and eventual ruling against the actress caused massive fan backlash and negative attention for Heard, with a petition for her Aquaman 2 departure gaining traction well into the second half of 2023.

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Despite Warner Bros. being under fire for Heard's lenient treatment, the actress still appears prominently in Aquaman 2. However, a new report from Variety reveals that it almost didn’t work out that way. Summarizing findings from a Reddit thread that exposed court-released notes taken during Heard's therapy sessions and other documents, the report reveals Heard alleged that co-star Jason Momoa was also on board with the fans in calling for his co-star to be ousted from the role, with the documents also detailing Heard's allegations of Momoa being inebriated on set and dressing up similarly to her ex-husband Depp during production. A source also alleges that Momoa, who previously unfollowed Heard on Instagram, blocked his co-star on the platform.

Heard's notes also detail feeling hostility from Aquaman filmmaker James Wan, stating that the director occasionally raised his voice and demanded that the actress abstain from posting about the film or being seen in on-set selfies with other cast members or crew. While this was also attributed to the Depp trial, the report confirms that Warner Bros already had plans to cut Heard from the sequel as early on as 2018 due to a lack of chemistry with Momoa but reversed course after Heard's ex-partner Elon Musk sent a “scorched-earth letter to Warner Bros. threatening to burn the house down” if Heard wasn’t featured in the sequel film. Warner Bros. would seemingly capitulate amidst speculations that Heard's role had been scaled back, a rumor Aquaman director Wan addressed recently. Despite this, at least two scenes featuring Heard were removed, including an action scene involving Heard's Mera battling the film’s villain and a love scene shared with Momoa's Aquaman.

While the backstage drama is interesting, the timing is inconvenient for Warner Bros, given that many already believe Aquaman 2 is being set up to fail by the company and could have done without the negative press. The impending reboot of the DC film franchise reportedly has executives refusing to take responsibility for the film backstage, leading to a bleak outlook on its performance. However, the report also details a lot of contrary statements from DC insiders striking down the accusations of insobriety leveled at Momoa and reiterating the professional conduct and respect Wan showed to cast members, likely as a means of damage control irrespective of veracity.

The conflicting reports are to be expected as Heard and Depp have previously shown signs of not being the most dependable sources, which is one of the reasons that Netflix's Depp V. Heard showrunner interviewed neither star when making the docuseries about the legal battle and surrounding drama. While it may never be known what the film's production looked like behind the scenes, fans will get to judge Aquaman 2 and Heard's performance soon enough.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set for theatrical release on December 20, 2023.

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Source: Variety