Depp, Heard’s career in hot seat

The Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial has been the talk of the town for the past few weeks. It is probably the most viewed celebrity trial since the OJ Simpson trial back in the ’90s. The trial has divided the Hollywood film industry as well as the viewers in half – people are picking sides and justifying why. Though the verdict of high profile defamation lawsuit is out and Johnny Depp has emerged as winner, it has undoubtedly affected the careers of both the stars. Let’s take a look at how it has impacted the careers of the two celebrities involved.

Fantastic Beasts made a little less fantastic

Johnny Depp has been a Hollywood mainstay for decades; his name usually shares the same breath as acting legends and heartthrobs like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. It is no surprise the defamation suit has hit this Kentucky actor the hardest, simply because he inarguably has more to lose. The first road bump this trial has caused for Depp is his removal from the Harry Potter Prequel series of movies. Depp portrayed Gellert Grindelwald, the main antagonist, in this franchise. He had already acted in two movies of this prequel namely Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Crimes of Grindelwald. However, he has since been replaced by Mads Mikkelson in the most recent iteration to be released, The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Depp couldn’t enlist for the role of a villainous sorcerer in this movie after he lost a libel case against The Sun over a 2018 article that called him a wife-beater. This was just the beginning of what was to come as this was not the only role from which Depp was removed.

Pirates of the Caribbean minus the Pirate

Few movie franchises have witnessed the kind of success that Pirates of the Caribbean has commanded over the years. This series made pirates cool again. And it would be nowhere near imaginable if it wasn’t for Johnny Depp’s rendition of the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow, who has been a protagonist of the franchise since day one. It will come as a massive disappointment to the loyal, long-time fans of the series that Johnny Depp has been removed from the upcoming film. Let that sink in for a second – Pirates of the Caribbean without Captain Jack Sparrow. The likely replacement is Margot Robbie, who could do wonders considering her aptitude to perform eclectic roles (look no further than Harley Quinn for proof); however, it is profoundly sad news for the fans.

Dior to the rescue and new horizons

You might think that the Depp era is over, and soon Johnny will join Mel Gibson in obscurity, but that’s not the case. Despite the trial not doing his film career any favors, Depp still seems to be making bank when it comes to his brand partnerships. Dior Sauvage is a fragrance that has gained celebrity status – everyone from red carpet celebrities to YouTube influencers – is raving about it. A lesser-known fact is that the brand partner for this iconic perfume is none other than Depp himself. Dior has recently released statistics that show they sold a bottle of Sauvage cologne every three seconds since Depp’s trial began. It means that fans are buying it to show their support for Depp. This is $100 luxury cologne, and Depp gets a healthy chunk of the revenue; he might even cover his lawyer’s fees with it and keep some for himself. Juda Engelmayer, President of HeraldPR, has expressed that this trial might boost Johnny’s career. He stated that though Depp might never work with Disney again, it would not be the end. Depp was too valuable a celebrity. This may be true but with charges of sexual assault pitted against him and his drug dependency might land him in serious trouble. Nevertheless, only time will tell.

Amber Heard under the water?

Where Johnny Depp’s career has slowed down, Amber Heard’s has hit a brick wall with media houses simply refusing to cast her – not for the reasons you would think. The trial outcry from Depp fans has not been the greatest hindrance in her way. The real impediment to Heard’s professional success is the insider stories that have started coming out following the trial. Many videos of her being outright racist have surfaced, and her colleagues, as well as producers, have claimed that she is a nightmare to work with. It is also known that her seminal role as Mera has been significantly diminished. Rumors have also surfaced that she only bagged the role because of Johnny Depp; this paints her in an even worse light.

Apart from the 2023 Aquaman sequel, she has not been cast for any other roles and experts in the industry predict she will not be cast in any flick for a long time. According to the grapevine, Heard might altogether lose her role as Mera and it might go to Emelia Clarke.

The Amber Heard – Johnny Depp trial is a case study of why most celebrity couples like to settle their divorces out of court. The lawsuit and its broadcasting might end an actor’s career who has been a sweetheart of a generation. It might kill opportunities for a talented young actress trying to fit into the entertainment industry. Prejudice aside, one can only hope the trial has some positive outcome, as both the parties have paid a massive price.