Amber Heard Expresses Gratitude to Fans for Support in Aquaman 2 Amid Controversy

As the final chapter of the DC Extended Universe unfolds with James Wan’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” controversies surrounding actress Amber Heard, who reprised her role as Mera, have not gone unnoticed. Despite facing challenges, Heard recently took to Instagram to express her gratitude to fans for their unwavering support.

When the anticipation for “Aquaman 2” was at its peak, discussions surrounding Amber Heard’s role were rife, with an online petition garnering millions of signatures urging her removal from the movie. Despite the controversy, Heard made her appearance, albeit in a reduced capacity.

Heard shared behind-the-scenes glimpses from the making of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on her Instagram, accompanied by a heartfelt message thanking fans for rallying behind her return to the comic book franchise as Mera. The significance of her post is notable, given Heard’s earlier claims during her 2022 defamation trial involving Johnny Depp, stating that Warner Bros. was hesitant to include her in the sequel due to fallout from her divorce, resulting in a diminished role and altered action scenes.

“After all this time, ‘Aquaman 2’ made its splash (sorry, it’s too easy),” Heard wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to all of my fans for the overwhelming support and love in Mera’s [‘Aquaman’] return. Thank you so much.”

The lack of extensive press coverage for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” including minimal involvement from other stars like Nicole Kidman and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, has been noticeable. Leading men Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson took the lead in promotional activities for the film. Despite the star power, the movie has struggled at the box office, accumulating just $81 million in North America since its December 20 release.

Director James Wan clarified that the sequel was designed to prioritize Aquaman’s relationship with his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), rather than focusing on Mera, as the first movie did. He described the first film as a “romance action-adventure movie” centered on Arthur and Mera’s journey, while the second film was conceived as a “bromance action-adventure movie” centering on Arthur and Orm.

Heard’s Instagram post, shared with her 5.3 million followers, notably disabled comments, a decision likely influenced by the online hate she has faced, especially during her legal battle with Johnny Depp. A petition calling for Heard’s removal from “Aquaman 2,” inspired by Depp’s removal from Fantastic Beasts 3, proved unsuccessful, and Heard remained part of the cast, albeit with a reduced role compared to the original.

For fans who have followed the DC movies chronologically, Amber Heard first appeared as Mera in Justice League, subsequently starring in the first Aquaman. Her participation in Snyder Cut reshoots added depth to the new Knightmare sequence. With “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” it appears that Heard’s tenure as the DC heroine has reached its conclusion.

Regrettably, the sequel did not replicate the success of the original Aquaman movie, facing a lukewarm reception per CinemaBlend’s review. As the DC Extended Universe unfolds, audiences await the next installment, “Superman: Legacy,” slated for release on July 11th, 2025, keeping an eye out for familiar faces in the evolving DC landscape.