Emilia Clarke To Replace Amber Heard in Aquaman 2
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has picked up some controversy owing to the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp defamation trial earlier this year.
As the much-publicized trial waged on, the nasty and messy legal battle between the ex-spouses also involved their professions and endorsements. With Johnny Depp being dropped by Disney as Captain Jack Sparrow over the alleged abuse, many petitioned for Amber to also be replaced in the Aquaman franchise, where she plays Mera.
There were rumors about the uncertainty of Amber’s role and future in Aquaman. At one point, there were even stories suggesting that Warner Bros. had indeed cut off Amber’s part, and a quest for a new actress to play Mera was ongoing.
Jason Momoa’s former co-star and Game of Thrones partner, Emilia Clarke, was one of the actresses that won the crowd’s favor as Amber’s replacement. This could be a potential reunion for the two who played Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO series.
A recently published piece of art that depicts Emilia dressed and likened to Y’Mera Xebella Challa or Mera seems to have fulfilled the yearning of many fans. While the fan art appeared to confirm that Emilia would be assuming the role, it was simply impressive and convincing art.
The possible reunion excited Aquaman fans, and the fans’ eagerness to see the Mother of Dragons take on an underwater warrior role is contagious. One Twitter comment stated that Emilia and Jason have already established amazing chemistry that audiences love and are familiar with, so their connection will be natural and effortless.
As of date, Warner Bros. Discovery has not released any statements regarding any recasting of the roles in Aquaman, although the executives confessed that due to the nasty Heard-Depp trial, they did consider the move.
During testimony for the trial earlier in the second quarter of the year, the president of DC Films, Walter Hamada, admitted that there had been some discussions about recasting the Mera role due to chemistry issues between Amber and Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman.
The production ultimately decided against recasting Amber for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Still, there is always that possibility that a character, any character, may be recast if any other movie franchise is released. After all, the recent changes in Warner Bros. Discovery are already overwhelming and debatable.
But Amber herself revealed that she plays a more pared-down version of Mera than what was meant originally.
The release date of Aquaman 2 was initially pegged for March 23, 2023, but it appears that another delay is imminent since Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, is not set to return until December 25, 2023. The changes on the release day have fans speculating (yet again) that Amber’s scenes are being replaced.
