Superhero fans were looking forward to the festive season for another reason other than celebrating Christmas - the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
The highly-anticipated sequel to the 2018 film was released in the UK yesterday and the US today (22 December), with Jason Momoa returning to the screen alongside Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Amber Heard has also reprised her role as Arthur’s wife and Queen of Atlantis, Mera, but film fans aren't happy after finding out how many lines she actually has in the new flick.
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You might remember that her role in Aquaman 2 was called into question following her defamation suit with ex-husband Johnny Depp which finally wrapped up in April last year in Depp's favour.
She had played Mera in the 2017 film Justice League and again in the original Aquaman, but she told the court she had been kicked off the movie because of the publicity of her divorce and the legal battle she was locked in.
Heard said at the time: "They released me from my contract. And I fought to stay in it, and they kept me in it. I just don't know how much I'm in, actually, of the final cut.
"I was given a script and then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character, without giving any spoilers away, two characters fighting with one another, and they basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch out."
DC boss Walter Hamada was called to the stand during the tense trial and was quizzed about the actress' role in the film, but he claimed that her screen presence was cut due to a lack of chemistry between her and Momoa.
"The size of the role in the film that she has was determined in the early development of the script," he said.
Heard also revealed that her entire acting career had suffered since she made domestic violence allegations against Depp, saying she 'lost opportunities', 'got dropped from jobs and campaigns' and had to 'fight to keep her job' as Mera.
It has now been revealed that Heard's leading role was drastically whittled down, giving her a total of 11 brief speaking parts.
It was reported by Variety in October that two of her scenes were cut; a fight with the villain, Black Manta and a love scene with Aquaman.
But it turns out that a lot of her other Aquaman 2 moments seemingly ended up on the cutting room floor, as Heard only has up to 20 minutes of screen time in the two hour and four minute film.
Business Insider said that 'Mera is relegated to a few grunts and a laugh', besides a few rare pieces of dialogue.
The news hasn't sat well at all with fans of Heard, who said they would boycott Aquaman's sequel in solidarity with the actress.
Taking to social media to share their anger, one said: "This why even though I support those Amber Heard fans who will see Aquaman 2 #OnlyForMera, I'm still not bought into watching it.
"Critics have noted that Amber was right: they cut down her scenes as much as possible. And this messed up the entire movie. #IStandWithAmberHeard."
Another said: "Amber Heard posted a lot during 2021/22 about training for fight scenes in Aquaman. They clearly cut a bunch of her scenes out like she said they did."
A third wrote: "Amber Heard deserved better. Mera deserved better."
And a fourth added: "The way they handled Amber Heard in Aquaman 2 was awful. Every time she talked it’s almost as if everyone was ignoring her in the scenes."
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Amber Heard, Johnny Depp, Jason Momoa, Aquaman
Olivia Burke