DirectorJames Wansays the upcomingAquamansequel was never meant to focus onAmber Heard’s Mera.
The actress, 37, reprises her role as the sea princess inAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but during her Virginia defamation trial with ex-husbandJohnny Depplast year, Heard testified thather role became “very pared down” amid negative attentionon her personal life.
In a new interview withEntertainment Weekly, Wan, 46, said Mera was never intended to be a main character in the second installment. Instead, the new story focuses on Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson).
“I always pitched this to everyone from the get-go. The firstAquamanwas Arthur and Mera’s journey. The second movie was always going to be Arthur and Orm,” he said.
“So, the first was a romance action-adventure movie, the second one is abromanceaction-adventure movie,” added Wan. “We’ll leave it at that.”
Warner Bros/DC/Kobal/Shutterstock
During the trial, Heard (who had filmed herAquamansequel scenes prior to the trial) argued that her reputation and career “took a hit” due to Depp’s public attacks on her character.
“I fought really hard to stay in the movie. They didn’t want to include me in the film,” Heard said on the stand about the sequel.
“I was given a script and then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character — without giving any spoilers away — two characters fighting with one another, and they basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch out,” she added at the time.
Hertalent agent Jessica Kovacevic testifiedthat she was told Heard’sAquaman and the Lost Kingdomrole was reduced due to chemistry issues with Momoa — but the agent believed behind the scenes, negative press relating to Depp affected her career.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Amber Heard in courtroom on May 3, 2022.JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP/Getty
“The character’s involvement in the story was what it was from the beginning,” Hamada said at the time of Mera’s part in the “buddy-comedy” sequel, which follows “co-leads” Momoa and Wilson.
When asked what issues were had with Heard in the making ofAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Hamada said, “My understanding is actually the production went very smoothly.”
In June 2022, after the verdict that sided mostly with Depp, Heard’s represponded to a report that she was being cut fromthe sequel altogether: “The rumor mill continues as it has from day one — inaccurate, insensitive and slightly insane.”
Amber Heard at the Taormina Film Festival on June 24, 2023.Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Back in November 2020, Heard toldEntertainment Weeklythat rumors of her not returning for the nextAquamanwere untrue.
“I’m super excited about the amount of fan love and the amount of fan appreciation thatAquamanhas acquired and that it has garnered so much excitement for Aquaman and Mera that it means we’ll be coming back,” she said at the time.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdomis in theatersDec. 20.
source: people.com
