In the latest development from the explosive Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial saga, Heard has accused her Aquaman costar Jason Momoa of unprofessional conduct on the set of the 2018 film.
In pre-trial testimony unsealed on Thursday, Heard claimed that Momoa would frequently show up drunk to shoot scenes for the DC Comics blockbuster. She also stated that the actor, who plays Aquaman himself, began “dressing like” her ex-husband Depp’s signature style while on set.
“Jason has a very quirky personality and he struggles with alcoholism which impacts his behavior,” Heard testified. “During shooting he was often intoxicated on set and had liquor stashed under the armor of his costume.”
The 36-year-old actress alleged that Momoa’s recurring intoxication caused frequent delays and disruption during the Aquaman production in Australia. She also took issue with his apparent transformation into a Depp lookalike.
“He started wearing rings the way Johnny does, bracelets, flashy sunglasses and hats even though that wasn’t his style before we met,” Heard stated. “It seemed he was trying to be like Johnny and it made me uncomfortable.”
Representatives for Momoa, 43, have strongly denied Heard’s accusations. His spokesperson claimed that Heard “made up a fictitious hurtful account” of Momoa’s time on set, adding that the allegations “couldn’t be farther from Jason’s stellar reputation.”
Depp’s legal team has also questioned the validity of Heard’s testimony, dismissing it as a “desperate” attempt to deflect blame during the former couple’s ongoing legal feud.
Nonetheless, Heard maintained in her statements that Momoa’s behavior led to significant delays in production. She claimed to have repeatedly voiced her concerns to director James Wan, alleging that Momoa “was never fully in control or coherent on set because he was sauced much of the time.”
“We fell extremely behind schedule in large part due to Jason’s drinking and poor preparation,” she testified. “Scores of crew members complained to me about waiting around for hours because Jason would wander off and no one could find him.”
Heard Stopped Short of Asking for Momoa’s Removal
Despite her purported frustrations over Momoa’s conduct, Heard stated that she stopped short of asking for his removal from the film.
“As much as he compromised production, I understood he was having a tough time with some personal issues.” Heard said in her testimony. “And even though his quasi-obsession with Johnny creeped me out, I didn’t want to derail his career.”
“I endured Jason’s behavior and covered for him with the director and producers even though it was impacting my role,” she added.
Rumors of dramatic on-set tensions between Heard and Momoa now threaten to overshadow anticipation for Aquaman’s highly-anticipated sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, slated for release in December 2023.
The film comes on the heels of Aquaman’s groundbreaking $1 billion global box office gross, making it the highest worldwide earner ever for a DC Extended Universe film.
Reps Warn Legal Action Over “Scandalous” Allegations
In response to the release of Heard’s testimonies, a representative for the studio behind the Aquaman franchise, Warner Bros., called the accusations “concerning and scandalous.”
Momoa’s spokesperson likewise threatened swift legal action, warning Heard that “making false claims about Jason’s behavior will not go without consequence.”
“The truth about what happened during production will come out,” the rep stated.
But Heard has stood by her explosive testimony so far, with a source close to the actress telling NBC News that “Amber will not let herself be intimidated into silence on set experiences that were deeply hurtful just to appease Warner Bros.”
Ongoing Fallout From Highly Publicized Trial
The headlines around Momoa arrive amidst the ongoing fallout from Heard and Depp’s widely publicized six-week defamation trial stemming from Heard’s 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence. While Heard did not mention Depp by name in the piece, his legal team argued that it implied Depp had abused her during their relationship.
In June 2022, a jury largely favored Depp in the case, awarding him $10 million in damages. But Heard has steadfastly maintained her innocence amid a torrent of online vitriol from Depp supporters.
The case has sparked heated debate about issues ranging from gender-based discrimination in the legal system to ethical concerns over publicly airing unproven accusations.
But Despite Controversy, Sequel Still Slated for 2023 Release
For now, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom remains on track for its Christmas 2023 release according to Warner Bros.
The studio stated that they remain “focused only on delivering an epic theatrical sequel that will delight fans across the globe.”
As for Momoa’s return as the titular superhero, director Wan’s team has endorsed the Hawaiian actor as “utterly committed to delivering the best possible Aquaman movie.”
So while Heard’s grievances with Momoa during production of the original film have spilled into the public sphere, the Aquaman sequel steamroll toward theaters continues largely undeterred.
Yet troubling questions around toxic on-set tensions and the weaponization of unproven allegations now hang over the anticipated comic book flick. It remains to be seen if the ubiquitous messiness from Heard and Depp’s legal cage match will indeed seep into public perception around DC Comic’s aquatic golden boy and his lost underwater kingdom.
