The defamation trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp continued this week with testimony from Walter Hamada, the President of DC Films for Warner Bros. Pictures. One of Heard’s contentions in her countersuit against Depp is that their martial strife and divorce nearly cost her a chance to reprise her role as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While testifying on behalf of Depp, Hamada confirmed that Heard was almost recast for the sequel. However, he blamed her lack of chemistry with co-star Jason Momoa rather than Heard’s personal life. Amber Heard was.
Via The Hollywood Reporter, Hamada said “They didn’t have a lot of chemistry together. 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. At the end of the day when you watch the movie, it looks like they have great chemistry. 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,” added Hamada. “It’s like what makes a movie star a movie star. You know it when you see it. The chemistry wasn’t there. … This one was more difficult because of lack of chemistry between the two.”
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Hamada also refuted Heard’s claims that her role in the sequel was reduced. Instead, Hamada indicated that “from the very early stages of development,” The Lost Kingdom was supposed to be a “buddy comedy” between Momoa’s Aquaman and his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson). Orm was the ruler of Atlantis in the first movie, but Arthur/Aquaman spared his life when he took the crown at the end of the film.
Additionally, Hamada indicated that there were no issues with Heard during the filming of the sequel. She will still be present in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom when it hits theaters on March 17, 2023. Beyond that, Heard’s deal is up after the sequel. If the studio wants her to return, a new contract would have to be negotiated.
What do you think about the latest testimony from the Heard and Depp trial? Let us know in the comment section below!
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