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Warner Bros. Executive had to fabricate chemistry between Amber Heard And Jason Momoa for Aquaman

The court battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is now in its sixth week, and the two are still going strong. Last week, we learned that Amber Heard came closer than we expected to lose her position in Aquaman 2, and Warner Bros. CEO Walter Hamada indicated this morning that the first film’s success was due to director James Wan and editor Kirk Morri.

Walter Hamada, President of DC-Based Film Production, Warner Bros. Pictures, testified via video deposition Tuesday and denied that Heard's compensation was affected by anything said by Depp or his lawyer Adam Waldman

On Tuesday, Johnny Depp’s legal team began its rebuttal testimony with a video deposition of Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada, who stated that his misgivings about casting Amber Heard in the Aquaman sequel stemmed from her chemistry with Jason Momoa.

In deposition testimony earlier this year, Hamada stated that the studio’s choice to cast Heard in the sequel was delayed due to worries about her chemistry with Momoa in the first film.

“You know it when you see it, and the chemistry wasn’t there,” Hamada said.

Hamada admitted there was a weeks long delay in confirming that Head would take part in Aquaman 2 because of 'conversations about recasting' her role and considered 'someone with better more natural chemistry'

He said that their interactions were improved in the first Aquaman via post-production editing and input from director James Wan.

“A good editor and filmmaker can pick the right takes, can pick the right moments,” he said.

“Sometimes it is simpler than others,” Heard’s attorney responded when asked if such editing was a common part of the filmmaking process. He admitted that strengthening Momoa and Heard’s relationship was more difficult, but that “the ultimate result works.”

Hamada denied that Warner Bros was considering paying Heard more for Aquaman 2 because a 'big part of our philosophy' was to hold actors to their original agreements

He said: ‘Editorially they were able to make that relationship work in the movie. There was a concern it took a lot of effort to get there.’

Hamada said, ‘It’s movie magic and editorial – the ability to put a performance together. You can fabricate that chemistry. If you watch the movie they look like they had great chemistry. It took a lot of effort to get there. Sometimes it’s very easy and sometimes it’s hard.’

Bredehoft asked what exactly was the chemistry between Heard and Momoa.

Heard's legal team have claimed she could have renegotiated her fee from $2million for the first Aquaman movie to $6million for the second one

Hamada said: ‘It’s like what makes a movie star a movie star. You know it when you see it and it wasn’t there.’

Bredehoft asked: ‘What did you do to fabricate the chemistry?’

Hamada said: ‘It’s editorial. Pick the right takes, the right moments, and put scenes together. The music in the scene makes a big difference. Just the magic of post-production, editing, sound, music, etc.’

Bredehoft asked if Hamada meant ‘literally falsifying’ the chemistry or something else like picking the music.\

Under questioning from one of Depp's lawyers, he said that the 'character's involvement was what it was from the beginning'

He said: ‘That’s what we do in post-production. On any production, you’re doing that. This one was more difficult because of the lack of chemistry but they were able to get it to a place where the end result works and it’s great.’

There was talk of finding someone with more “natural chemistry” with Momoa, but Hamada stated Heard was cast in the end.

Jessica Kovacevic, Heard’s agent, testified last week that Heard’s contract said that she would be paid $2 million upfront for the sequel, which is reportedly double the amount she earned for the original Aquaman. However, according to Kovacevic, Heard’s career was harmed as a result of the unfavorable publicity surrounding Depp’s lawsuit against her. Heard alleges that Waldman’s assertions that she invented domestic violence allegations against Depp damaged her reputation in her lawsuit.

Hamada stated that there was no discussion about paying Heard more for the sequel, but that nothing said by Johnny Depp or Adam Waldman, one of his attorneys, had an impact on her pay. Momoa’s pay for the Aquaman sequel was renegotiated, according to him. He also said that the extent of Heard’s part was dictated by the script’s early development in 2018.

Hamada denied Heard's claims her character, Mera, saw its role reduced dramatically including having an action scene taken away from her. Under questioning from one of Depp's lawyers, he said that the 'character's involvement was what it was from the beginning'

Momoa and Wan lobbied for Heard to get the role in the sequel, according to producer Kathryn Arnold, an expert witness for Heard. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is slated to be released in 2023, however, due to the legal processes, there is an internet petition to get her removed from the film.

Depp was dropped from Fantastic Beasts 3 by Hamada’s Warner Bros. after he lost a UK defamation case against The Sun over the publication’s claim that he was a “wife abuser.” The studio requested Depp to resign from the sequel, according to Depp.

Source: dailymail.com.uk

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