With Aquaman 2 on its way to theaters and The Flash already in the rearview mirror, Zack Snyder has come to the defense of the controversial stars of each film, who have fallen out of favor with audiences since their DCEU debuts.

The first Aquaman film was an unexpected success, with some praise directed toward the performances of leads Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, who portrayed the titular hero’s love interest, Mera. Following a public court case involving her ex-husband Johnny Depp, Heard would see a wave of backlash surge forth, with calls for her dismissal getting so heated that a rep for the actress had to release a statement confirming that Heard hadn’t been fired as Aquaman 2's Mera. Miller received similar backlash for alleged criminal behavior in the months leading up to The Flash's release. However, his role as the Scarlet Speedster was not affected partly due to the complications presented by replacing a lead actor playing two versions of the main character.

RELATED: How Static Can Be DC’s Next Smallville

While Heard kept her role in the upcoming sequel, albeit with Aquaman 2 director James Wan grappling with rumors of her role being reduced, people are still set against the actress vocally online, and the negative energy has drawn the attention of her former boss, Snyder. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter discussing his now-rearview time at DC, the director weighed in on the hate storm surrounding Heard, saying, “I just don’t get it. If other people don’t like her, I don’t know what to say. I would work with her in a second.” Snyder also supported Miller during their legal and mental health challenges, commending the actor's work in The Flash. "[They] did a great job in that Flash movie. It’s very difficult to play against yourself."

While Snyder's comments may come too late for The Flash, his statement on Heard might be more effective than it appears based on the likelihood of an intersection between Snyder's most vocal fans and the sort of people who have strong opinions on the controversial actress. In addition to unwavering support for the filmmaker and his creative vision, Snyder's fans have also voiced strong opinions on other issues, both related and otherwise. So, Synder's defense of Heard's character might take some heat off. Despite the online hate, Heard still has some vocal supporters, as seen when there was an upset over Mera's glaring omission from an Aquaman 2 poster.

Heard may appreciate the gesture, but she could have bigger issues ahead. Aquaman 2's box office debut could be worse than The Marvels, which is almost universally seen as the worst failure for any modern superhero movie and has reportedly set the powers that be at Marvel Studios into a frenzy. It’s been the general belief for a while that the last few DCEU films were being left hanging by the new execs in charge at DC Studios, and as the last one, Aquaman 2 might just be hit the worst.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 22, 2023.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Aquaman balances his duties as king and as a member of the Justice League, all while planning a wedding. Black Manta is on the hunt for Atlantean tech to help rebuild his armor. Orm plots to escape his Atlantean prison.

MORE: Why Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Shouldn’t Show Any Boss Fights Before Launch

Source: The Hollywood Reporter