Aquaman

The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial continues to skulk its way across the seafloor of the online subconscious this week, occasionally vomiting up ...

Which was “significant,” in Arnold’s telling, most notably as it applied to Heard’s starring role in the Aquaman sub-franchise of Warner Bros. films. The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial continues to skulk its way across the seafloor of the online subconscious this week, occasionally vomiting up some industry factoid or moment of strangeness that inevitably rises to the surface to be fitfully dissected and perused. Per The Wrap, Arnold—who was called as a witness on Heard’s behalf, as she attempts to fend off Depp’s accusations of defamation over an op-ed she wrote about being a survivor of abuse from a few years back—noted that “research showed whenever Heard’s name was mentioned, whether in connection to a film, TV show, magazine article, or endorsement deal, there was immediate backlash from fans on social media.” (Readers at home can replicate this research by spending approximately four seconds on Twitter in 2022.) As such, Warner Bros. told Heard she was functionally disinvited from FanDome, the company’s now-annual celebration of its brands and various film properties.

A witness for Amber Heard might've given away 'Aquaman 2' spoilers during her testimony Monday in the Johnny Deep defamation trial.

Arnold went on to lament that Heard "trained 5 hours a day for several months with the trainer to do this big action sequence" and didn't learn that her role shrunk until she arrived to set. "I believe that in the first act of the movie, she was injured somehow, or it had something to do with a baby," Arnold teased in her testimony. While she managed to keep the role, Heard previously testified she ended up appearing in a "very pared-down version" of the original story planned for her character Mera.

Details about the plot of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom were spoiled at Amber Heard's defamation trial.

We at the Direct exclusively reported on Mera being pregnant with her and Arthur Curry's child for most of the film: This kept Mera from being part of a major action sequence that she was originally supposed to have in the movie's final moments. Most recently, DC President of Films Walter Hamada expressed that Heard didn't face any repercussions and was welcomed back to the film through this ugly situation, although the details about the truth are still quite unclear.

Jason Momoa wanted Amber Heard to reprise her role as Mera in "Aquaman 2", according to new testimony in the defamation trial brought against Heard by her ...

Echoing statements Heard herself has made about her role in the DC comics sequel being significantly cut, Arnold told the court that the original script for “Aquaman 2” had a “strong romantic arc the entire film and some great action sequences” for the actress. Arnold believes Heard could have renegotiated her fee to as much as $6 million US had she not been maligned by Waldman. She added that it “doesn’t make sense” for studios and producers to hire Heard. “Her world has been silent in terms of opportunities.”

Jason Momoa was the reason that Amber Heard kept her role in Aquaman 2, entertainment industry consultant Kathryn Arnold testified in Johnny Depp's ...

According to Arnold, the sequence was cut and the role itself was “radically reduced” by the time Heard got to the set. Momoa currently follows both Depp and Heard on the platform. Per The Independent, some fans have claimed Momoa followed Depp on Instagram during the ongoing trial, but it’s not clear exactly when that happened.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Few filmmakers have proven as ambitious or imaginative in recent decades as James Wan, who got his start in the horror world with franchises like Saw, ...

"As part of our DC slate, some legacy development titles including New Gods and The Trench will not be moving forward," Warner Bros. and DC said in a statement at the time. While the DC Extended Universe has seen a number of successes, its underwhelming experiences are often attributed to the overall franchise lacking a cohesive vision for the series as a whole. So I would say of all the different thoughts and ideas I've come up with, I end up using maybe 20-30% of them in my work, and so I do have a drawer full of ideas that could develop into something else."

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.