It’s being suggested Amber Heard not only won’t be fired from Aquaman 2 but her role is set to grow.
Geekosity’s Mikey Sutton and his sources say “there are no plans to have Heard fired” even now after Johnny Depp’s defamation suit went to trial.
Previous rumors and gossip held she might get fired or have her part as Mera dramatically reduced. Sutton hears the opposite.
Since “Depp’s case actually backfired on him,” and he lost, Heard is viewed as the victim in the scandal by Warner Bros. Sutton writes, “firing her would be in poor taste and could cause a backlash.”
A judge ruled against Depp in his case against the UK Sun which called him a “wife beater.” WB initially didn’t want to take sides but according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter the ruling emboldened the studio to ask Depp to resign from Fantastic Beasts.
Related: Johnny Depp Resigns From Harry Potter Franchise At Request Of Warner Bros.
The studio, according to one of Sutton’s insiders, wants to avoid bad publicity Depp might generate during the promotion of the film. This opinion was also echoed by the report from The Hollywood Reporter.
Heard, on the other hand, could reap rewards with an expanded role in Aquaman 2, despite reports to the contrary, and for reasons already in the cards.
Sutton says WB doesn’t want to fall behind Marvel in the game of female representation.
On top of the film roster of heroines including Black Widow and Captain Marvel, the House of Ideas boasts Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, and Kate Bishop, as well as Scarlet Witch, on Disney Plus.
As far as IPs for all ages, “DC Films only has Wonder Woman and Mera.” They have Harley Quinn but her last movie was R-rated and her next one, The Suicide Squad will be too.
Removing Mera from Aquaman 2, in short, doesn’t champion diversity, and recasting an actress perceived as a victim of abuse – despite worse charges lodged against her – would mean bad PR in the minds of executives.
Related Rumor: Amber Heard’s Role in Aquaman 2 May Get Decreased
Saying that, a petition calling for Heard to be excluded has nearly reached 1 million signatures. It is directed toward DC and Warner executives Courtney Simmons and Paul McGuire.
Whether they pay the petition any mind is another story.