Aquaman: Amber Heard Should've Been Recast

With rumors that Amber Heard’s role has been reduced in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom movie, fans demanded a recast. Most wanted her to be recast due to the ongoing lawsuit between her and Johnny Depp. No matter the outcome of that trial, Heard should’ve been replaced and a better option should’ve been brought in. Even if there was no bad press out there for the 36-year-old actress, the cards were stacked against her in the long-term role.

First and foremost, she’s not exactly a top-notch actress. That’s not to say she’s terrible, but quick, name me one memorable scene you’ve seen her in? Not one that someone with an above-average memory pulls from thin air, name one scene that built up an emotional connection to her character and you stuck with you. What role has she played that made you wish there was more to see from that character? I’ll save you the time, there’ probably isn’t any.

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Second, she doesn’t fit the role. Mera in the comics is a queen. She commands respect and she is absolutely fierce. She has power beyond belief and can easily outmatch her opponents. While Amber Heard might have the look of Queen Mera down, does she embody the character from the page on the comics to the big screen? Not even in the slightest. That’s where the DCEU is failing by not giving the classic heroes from the stories the same feel as the ones on the screen. Mera needs to be the perfect balance between tough and warm-hearted and based on the first Aquaman movie I don’t see Heard pulling it off.

And most importantly, she and Jason Momoa who plays Arthur Curry have next to no on-screen chemistry. There’s no peanut butter and chocolate, perfect mash-up between the two. If Momoa can convey chemistry with his costar by barely talking and when he does it’s in a made-up language like Game of Thrones then there should be a small spark between him and his co-star. There was none. To that point, many fans hoped it would be Emilia Clark. No one is asking for award-winning performances. Fans just want to make sure the story is believable.

After all, DC has dug in on plenty of characters, but they’re not afraid to pivot. They switched from the Jared Leto Joke. Robert Pattinson became the new Batman. Would this change really seem like they were grasping at straws? Amber Heard as Mera is a dead end. With any success, Aquaman would more than likely be a trilogy. If they build the story right, it could potentially spin off into a Mera: Queen of Atlantis movie or limited series on HBO Max. Instead Warner Bros/DC doubled down and kept her role to a minimum. There’s a franchise in there somewhere and the studio missed the boat.