Amber Heard has finally broken her silence on her return as Mera in the upcoming Aquaman sequel. The 37-year-old actress, who reportedly earned $2 million for her role in the first film, expressed her honor to be back in the DC Extended Universe but acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with such a franchise.
In an interview with Deadline, Amber drew a comparison between the Aquaman series and her latest project, In the Fire. She stated, “These projects represent two contrasting ends of the spectrum in my industry. Big franchise movies like Aquaman have tremendous pressure and millions of dollars at stake, often requiring compromises to ensure their success. On the other hand, independent films like In the Fire are works of art and passion projects, operating with limited resources and different compromises.”
The talented actress believes that the key to success lies in balancing both types of projects. She expressed her deep appreciation for being part of the Aquaman franchise, recognizing the grandeur and machinery behind it. At the same time, she expressed pride in working on smaller passion projects like In the Fire, which allowed her to connect with the filmmakers and cast on a more personal level.
Amber previously starred in the first Aquaman film released in 2018. However, her return for the sequel has been met with controversy due to her public accusations of abuse against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. Fans of Johnny launched a petition calling for her role to be recast, accusing her of engaging in a campaign to harm Depp’s career.
While the petition gathered millions of signatures, Amber dismissed its impact, emphasizing that casting decisions should not be dictated by paid rumors or social media campaigns lacking factual basis. The film’s producer, Peter Safran, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that decisions should prioritize what is best for the movie rather than yielding to fan pressure.
During their high-profile court case, Amber testified that she fought hard to maintain her role in the film but claimed that the production did not want to include her and shot a significantly reduced version of her part.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, featuring Jason Momoa reprising his role as the titular hero, alongside a star-studded cast including Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and others, is set to hit theaters in December.