The recent legal troubles involving Amber Heard have already caused controversy surrounding the imminent Aquaman 2 release, leading many to wonder if the actress will still appear in the movie. The backlash over her protracted court dispute with her ex-husband Johnny Depp was so strong that some fans even started a petition to have her removed from the sequel.
The responses to some of the early Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom test screenings have now surfaced, and they present an even more alarming picture for a movie that is expected to be the last release in the DC Extended Universe before James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reboot of the series.
Is Amber Heard in Aquaman 2?
Mera is still played by Amber Heard in Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom. After online reports that she had been dropped due to her legal disputes with Johnny Depp, Amber Heard confirmed to EW in November 2020 that she will be resuming her role in Aquaman 2.
However, while Heard does appear in the Aquaman sequel, her role as Mera has reportedly been pared-down and reduced with the actress revealing at the infamous court hearing last year that new versions of the film’s script, “Basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch.”
Test Screenings Have Not Been Positive
DC has reason to be concerned given the Amber Heard incident and responses to some of the movie’s early test screenings. An anonymous user just exposed Aquaman 2’s dire situation on Reddit. Wrote the scooper:
“I’ll be honest, we’re half a dozen test screenings in and it’s not looking great,”
“I’ve consistently heard over the last half year or so that it’s boring, not as good as the first, and potentially one of the worst DCEU movies.”
However, the insider also explained, per The Direct, that Amber Heard’s presence in the film had nothing to do with the poor reactions:
“she’s not in the film that much.”
Fellow insider source Big Screen Leaks (BSL) followed up on ViewerAnon’s comments on Twitter, saying:
“It brings me no joy to back him up and tell you that test screenings for this film have not been good. Really hoping Wan fixes this movie before December.”
There’s a reason I’ve been avoiding any questions about AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM but since @ViewerAnon put it out there, It brings me no joy to back him up and tell you that test screenings for this film have not been good. Really hoping Wan fixes this movie before December.
— BSL 🎄 (@bigscreenleaks) February 20, 2023
This has also brought a comment from film reporter Jeff Sneider who said:
“I hear it’s terrible and that’s why Momoa is gonna be Lobo going forward. But they can’t say that yet because then it would be a lame duck… and DC is hoping to wring another billion out of the box office. First one was awful too, so not a huge surprise.”
I hear it’s terrible and that’s why Momoa is gonna be Lobo going forward. But they can’t say that yet because then it would be a lame duck… and DC is hoping to wring another billion out of the box office. First one was awful too, so not a huge surprise. https://t.co/VlbUoqILDm
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) February 20, 2023
A Petition Set Up to Remove Amber Heard From Aquaman 2
Amber Heard’s part in Aquaman 2 has been scaled back, but it hasn’t prevented moviegoers from starting a petition on Change.org to demand her entire removal from the picture. The petition was started as Heard’s legal dispute with Johnny Depp intensified and he was fired from the Fantastic Beasts franchise in November 2020 as Gellert Grindelwald.
We Think You Should Also Read About Amber Heard’s Personal Life:
- Amber Heard Appeals For New Trial In Defamation Case After Losing To Johnny Depp!
- Johnny Depp Counters Amber Heard’s Verdict Appeal
As of February 2023, the petition for DC and Warner Bros. to fire the actress has gathered more than 4.6 million signatures.
Stay with us for more wonderful news like this as it becomes available. Don’t forget to add our website to your bookmarks so you can read posts like this one on Domaintrip.com.
Contents