AMBER Heard, the controversial actress, has been confirmed to reprise her role as Mera in Warner Bros' upcoming superhero film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
There had been rumours that her part might be cancelled or recast in the aftermath of her highly sensationalised public defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp, however Heard herself disputed this back in June 2022.
On Monday, Warner Bros began their two-hour CinemaCon presentation with the first teaser for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is set to be released on December 20 after a number of delays.
According to Insider, the teaser, which has not yet been shared online, included Heard's Mera in two quick glimpses.
Mera was seen, 'doing battle underwater' though she has no dialogue in the trailer, while another report from The Direct added she was wearing a new white suit.
However, it remains to be seen how much screen time she will end up receiving in the sequel, especially since she testified during her trial that a significant portion of her character was deleted.
“I fought really hard to stay in the movie – they didn't want to include me in the film. 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 spoilers away, two characters fighting with one another,” she said.
“They basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch,” Heard added.
In June 2022, rumours began to emerge that Warner Bros had not brought Heard back for the sequel and were in the process of recasting her role. During her trial, a Change.org petition to have her removed from the sequel collected over 4.6 million signatures.
The rumour gained credibility after then DC Films chief Walter Hamada testified during the trial that they contemplated recasting the actress due to concerns about her lack of “natural chemistry” with co-star Momoa. – The Vibes, April 26, 2023