The return of Amber Heard as Mera in the upcoming film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has come as a surprise to many, especially given her claims during court proceedings last year that Warner Bros. had reduced her role in the film. There were also rumors that the studio would continue to alter her character’s prominence. However, it’s shocking to note that cuts were made to other parts of the film instead of Heard’s character.
An insider has revealed that Ben Affleck’s cameo was cut, and Willem Dafoe’s character Vulko “is not in the movie [and] he dies off-screen.” Heard’s Mera character was first introduced in the 2017 film Justice League before becoming a lead character in 2018’s Aquaman.
During CinemaCon, a trailer for the film was shown, which briefly featured Heard as Aquaman’s love interest. However, she didn’t speak in the trailer, and it remains unclear how much screen time she’ll get in the final cut of the movie. During the defamation trial, Heard alleged that there had been a lot left on the cutting room floor.
Some are pleased that Heard is receiving the same treatment as Johnny Depp, who is being offered new projects by various production companies. However, others are unhappy with DC and Warner Bros. Pictures for not taking action against Heard.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to premiere in cinemas on December 20, 2023.