On a mid-September day, Warner Bros. faced unexpected turbulence as documents from the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial emerged on Reddit, coinciding with the release of the trailer for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” Depp fans had funded the release of notes from Heard’s therapist, Dr. Dawn Hughes, describing a hostile set where Jason Momoa, allegedly intoxicated, dressed like Depp and pushed for Heard’s removal from her role as Mera. While a DC spokesperson defended Momoa’s professionalism, the notes also portrayed Heard feeling unsupported by director James Wan and treated like an outcast due to her legal battles.
Despite rumors of chemistry issues, sources revealed that Warner Bros. and Wan initially planned to replace Heard after the first “Aquaman” due to alleged lack of chemistry with Momoa. However, Elon Musk, Heard’s ex-boyfriend, intervened with a threat to the studio, leading to her retention. The drama resurfaces as DC Entertainment navigates leadership changes, with “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” facing challenges beyond the Heard saga. The film underwent reshoots and testing, prompting concerns about its fate amid the broader overhaul of the DC universe under new leadership.
Notably, the DC universe is undergoing a major transformation, with Zack Snyder’s original cast not reprising their roles in the new DC universe. Momoa might return, but not as Aquaman, as talks suggest his involvement in playing Lobo in upcoming projects. Amid the confusion, other actors, such as Viola Davis, will maintain their roles in the evolving DC universe. The fate of the DC franchise under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav remains uncertain, with the studio potentially facing a sale to another company, possibly Universal, within two years.
As the “Aquaman” sequel approaches release, Warner Bros. is outwardly supporting the film, anticipating success in markets like China, where the first installment performed exceptionally. However, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike hampers promotional efforts, and internal friction is evident, with scenes cut from the movie and social media distancing between Momoa and Heard. Despite the turmoil, early tracking indicates strong interest in “Aquaman 2,” suggesting it could perform well during the holiday season, leveraging a lack of competing releases for success at the box office.
