How willJohnny DeppandAmber Heardmove on after their explosive legal battle?
After six weeks of shocking testimony from friends, family and each other, the famous exes have had their private lives aired out in the Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom and the world at large. With the highly publicized trial coming to a close soon (the jury is currently deliberating on Depp’s defamation claims and Heard’s countersuit), here’s what’s next for Depp, 58, and Heard, 36.
Amber Heard: Living in the desert withAquaman 2on the horizon
During her testimony, Heard revealed she lives in Yucca Valley, California, a desert town near Joshua Tree National Park. She’s mom to 1-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige. Heard has shared various photos of herself winding down indesert-filled landscapes, including one from February that shecaptioned, “Wandering…”
Explaining how the trial has affected her, Heard said on the witness stand that it’sbeen “agonizing” for her to relive her alleged traumaspublicly — and face death threats daily.
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“Perhaps it’s easy to forget that, but I’m a human being,” she said, adding, “I just want Johnny to leave me alone. I don’t deserve this. I want to move on.”
In terms of her career, Heard has two movie roles already completed.
Chris Kleponis/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty
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She’ll return as Mera inAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a sequel to the blockbuster 2018 original that also stars Jason Momoa. Filming is already done, with a release date currently set for March 17, 2023. Heard testified that her role in the film was “pared down” because of the Depp controversy, though DC Films President Walter Hamadatestifiedthat her part was never intended to be central to the sequel, describing it as a “buddy-comedy” between Momoa and Patrick Wilson.
Heard said she “fought really hard to stay in"Aquaman’s sequel when “they didn’t want to include me in the film.”
The actress also finished work on an independent movie titledIn the Fireright before the trial began in April. “That’s a wrap!” she wrote on Instagram March 28, sharing a photo of herself leaping on a mountainside in her 19th-century costume for the thriller.
Johnny Depp: Playing a King and promises of more music
Depp and his talent agent testified about the actor being unable to land a big-budget studio film in the wake of his controversy with Heard, claiming helost a $22.5 million paydayfor being in a scrapped sixthPirates of the Caribbeanmovie. His former longtime agent, however, testified that Depp had begun cultivating a negative track record forbeing “unprofessional” and late to movie sets, making studios “reluctant” to hire him.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer behind thePiratesfranchise, said in a recent interview with the U.K.‘sThe Sunday Timesthat Depp isnot intended to be in anotherPiratesmovieat the moment: “Not at this point. The future is yet to be decided,” he said of a possible Depp return as Capt. Jack Sparrow.
Johnny Depp.Cliff Owen/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty
Per his Instagram bio, Depp is an “occasional thespian,” and as he testified in court, music has always been his first passion. Days after cases were closed in the trial, in fact, Depp was making surprise appearances in England playingguitar onstage with rocker Jeff Beckmultiple nights. He is also part of the band Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.
On Beck’swebsite, Depp is referred to as the musician’s “unexpected co-conspirator,” adding that the pair had “been working on music together for a while now.” Beck added at the time, “You’ll be hearing more from Johnny and me in a little while but until then we hope you find some comfort and solidarity in our take on this Lennon classic.”
Other than work, Depp is dad to daughter actress Lily-Rose,who turned 23 years old on Fridayas closing arguments were made, and son Jack, who turned 20 earlier this year. He shares them with his ex, French singerVanessa Paradis.
Steve Helber/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
It’s been 18 months since Depp lost his U.K. libel case. Back in November 2020, the actorlost the libel lawsuit casein London against British tabloidThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.
Reps for the two stars did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
About the $100 million in damages Heard is seeking, her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said in closing arguments that they arrived at that number — double of Depp’s damages — to send “a message back.” She explained to the jury, “We’re not asking you to give $100 million. We’re asking you to just look at the damages in this case and just be fair and reasonable in whatever you determine.”
source: people.com
