There have been constant rumors from fans and entertainment scoopers that Warner Bros. is planning to replace Amber Heard in Aquaman 2 since the aftermath of her public court case with Johnny Depp.
Amber Heard Aquaman 2 rumors
One of the recent reports claiming that Heard’s role in the movie is getting recast came from Just Jared. An insider told the news outlet that the film studio decided to recast Heard‘s role after screen-testing the movie. The source said that Jason Momoa and Nicole Kidman will do reshoots for the movie along with the new actress replacing Heard. The insider noted that Heard’s replacement will not only play Mera in Aquaman 2 but will only reprise the role in future DC films.
However, after the Just Jared story was published, The Blast reached out to Heard for comment, and a rep for the actress debunked speculations that she’s been cut from Aquaman 2. “The rumor mill continues as it has from day one — inaccurate, insensitive, and slightly insane,” Heard’s spokesperson told The Blast.
Just Jared also updated its original story with sources close to the Aquaman 2 production saying that Heard “has not been completely cut from the film” as “she still has a small role” in the sequel. Despite this, the news outlet pointed out that its other sources are still positive that the actress will be recast.
Amber Heard as Mera
Heard made her first appearance as Mera in the 2018 film Aquaman. The princess of Xebel and daughter of King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren), Mera can control water with hydrokinesis and communicate with other Atlanteans telepathically.
During the Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp trial, #boycottaquaman2 trended on social media, as loyal supporters of Depp urged Warner Bros. to replace the Heard in the role of Mera. Despite the major fan pressure to have her cut from the film, producer Peter Safran issued a statement indicating that the studio is backing Heard in the sequel.
Unfortunately for Heard fans, it seems that the actress will have less screentime in Aquaman 2, as she herself mentioned in the trial that she had lost “a bunch” of scenes in the sequel and felt that she was barely in it.
Aquaman 2 synopsis
Officially titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Aquaman 2 finds the titular character (Momoa) forging an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to save Atlantis and the rest of the planet. It is directed by James Wan from a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.
Aquaman 2 cast
In addition to Heard, Momoa, Lundgren, and Kidman (Atlanna), the sequel will also feature performances from returning cast members Willem Dafoe (Nuidis Vulko), Patrick Wilson (Orm Marius), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (David Kane/Black Manta), Temuera Morrison (Thomas Curry), and Randall Park (Dr. Stephen Shin).
Joining them are franchise newcomers Vincent Regan as Atlan, the first king of Atlantis; Jani Zhao as Stingray; Indya Moore as Karshon; and Pilou Asbæk in an undisclosed role.
Aquaman 2 release date
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to open in U.S. theaters on March 17th, 2023. The film is expected to be available to stream on HBO Max 45 days after its theatrical release.
Jason Momoa’s salary for Aquaman 2
Momoa had an option to appear in a sequel to Aquaman as part of his initial deal with Warner Bros., but after the 2018 movie earned a total of $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office, the actor renegotiated his contract to “essentially double his salary” for the follow-up movie. According to a new report by Variety, the actor will take home $15 million for reprising his role as Arthur Curry in Aquaman 2.
Momoa isn’t the only one who is getting a pay raise for playing DC characters on the big screen. Variety noted that Joaquin Phoenix is looking to receive $20 million for Joker: Folie à Deux, the upcoming sequel to the 2019 movie Joker. Phoenix was paid $4.5 million for playing the iconic DC villain in the first movie. But after the film surpassed the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office and Phoenix won an Oscar for his portrayal of the titular character, Warner Bros. will reportedly need to quadruple the actor’s compensation from the first movie in order for the sequel to push through.
Momoa’s $15 million for Aquaman 2 and Phoenix’s $20 million for Joker 2 are in the same range as the earnings of their Marvel counterparts. According to ComicBook.com, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson are said to have received $20 million each for their starring roles in Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Widow, respectively.