During a five-week ordeal, a million-dollar question mark mystery lingers: How much have the careers of Johnny Depp or Amber Heard been damaged by the actors allegedly slandering each other?
Hollywood insiders, usually silent on deals in the industry, have taken a stand largely to dispel accusations that the duo’s public smear has played a role in their failed careers. Keeping in line with studios that isolate themselves from appearing to take sides in the high-profile #MeToo controversy, Walter Hamada, president of DC Films and the highest-ranking studio officer involved in the trial, said in a statement. Tuesday that “there was talk of potential reworking” of Hurd in the sequel to Aquaman, but they are not related to her court battle with Depp.
Hamada attributes the discussions to “chemical” issues with leading man Jason Momoa.
The testimony reflects the testimony of Disney’s executive director Tina Newman last week that she did not know about the December 2018 article at the heart of the defamation lawsuit, which plays a role in choosing not to move forward with another part of the Pirates of the Caribbean. Depp claims that he was excluded from the franchise shortly after the column was published – which does not name him but describes “domestic violence” in a time frame corresponding to his marriage to Hurd – and that he is still boycotted by Hollywood. .
In a $ 100 million counterclaim, Hurd accused Depp of coordinating a campaign to defame her, calling her allegations of abuse fraud.
In a 20-minute revelation shown to the jury, Hamada told in detail how Hurd was almost loaded by the upcoming film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
“Concerns were raised at the end of the production of the first film,” Hamada said of whether the studio would be better off reworking someone who has better natural chemistry with Jason Momoa and moving forward that way.
Hurd’s contract with Warner Bros. paid her $ 450,000 for her debut as Mera, the queen of Atlantis, in Zack Snyder’s Justice League with studio options for her to repeat the character in later films, the actor said. She was paid $ 1 million for Aquaman and $ 2 million for the sequel. The studio has not decided whether to choose her option, for which she will be paid $ 4 million, for another film.
Asked if the alleged defamatory statements by Adam Waldman – one of Depp’s lawyers who was dismissed from the leak case covered by a press release – calling allegations of Hurd’s abuse a lie, affected Hurd’s compensation or role in his subsequent actions. Aquaman, Hamada rejected the claim. He described Warner Bros. philosophy of “hold[ing] people of their ability. “
“As a company, we go through a lot of problems when we make deals with actors,” Hamada said. “Traditionally, before joining the company, each option was renegotiated. One thing we were trying to master was not to renegotiate every deal. “
For several days at the stand, Hurd testified that studios and supporters were withdrawing from her after Depp began undermining her allegations that she had been abused by him.
“I had to fight really hard to keep my career going,” Hurd said on May 17. “After receiving my temporary restraining order, I lost opportunities. I was fired. I was kicked out of a campaign I had filmed. I struggled to keep my job in the biggest movie opportunity I’ve ever had – the Justice League, with the option [for] Aquaman. ”
The actress added that Warner Bros. they did not want to include her in the sequel to Aquaman and only shot a “very abbreviated version” of her role.
“I got a script, then I was given new versions of the script, which removed scenes that had action in it, that portrayed my character and another character – without releasing spoilers – two characters fighting each other,” he said. Hurd. “They basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch. “
Undermining Hurd’s testimony, Hamada testified that her role in the film was determined before the couple’s court battle and that “her character’s involvement in the story is what it was in the beginning.”
The testimony of the CEO appointed to guard DC’s expanded universe in 2018 after the Justice League failed with what Hurd’s agent, Jessica Kovacevic of WME, said was the reason her client’s role in the sequel to Aquaman did not. is as stable as you want. Last week, she testified that she was told that Hurd’s role was reduced due to problems with chemistry, but this negative press influenced the studio’s decision, questioning why Hurd’s career did not develop as much as Hurd’s. Momoa.
“Your career is turning after something like that,” Kovacevic said, referring to Warner Bros. Hurd chose to play Mera after she auditioned for the role. “She was very well received in the film at the time. Then everyone was happy with her. There were not any problems. Then there should be a complete decline after that and then this should coincide with constant tweets and negativity broadcast for her. I don’t have physical evidence, but that’s the only logical conclusion I can make. “
Kovacevic added that Hurd dropped out of an Amazon film because of Depp’s accusations.
Hamada was the second Hollywood insider to testify about Depp in the trial. Jack Wigham, the actor’s agent, previously testified that his client should have received $ 22.5 million to reprise his role as Jack Sparrow in the sixth film about pirates, but Disney went in a different direction after Hurd’s publication.
“After the article, it was impossible to provide him with a studio film that we would usually focus on,” Wigham said.
Hurd also attracted many people with links to the industry to support her case. Newman was summoned to the stand to refute allegations that Hurd’s abuse allegations led Disney to abandon its plans for Pirates 6. She cited emails between company executives Sean Bailey, Alan Horn and Alan Bergman, who were discussing problems with Depp time of the meeting.
The testimony was overshadowed by Tracy Jacobs of the United Talent Agency, a former Depp agent who tore up his ex-client for ruining his career with alcohol and drug problems.
“His star has faded as it has become increasingly difficult to find him a job due to his reputation for being late and other things,” Jacobs said, adding that “people are talking” about drug abuse.
At one point, Depp had to start wearing a headset to be handed the lines because he would not remember them, she said.
The trial continues on Wednesday, with Kate Moss expected to testify as a witness to Depp’s rebuttal.
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