News | May 24, 2022 07:41 PM EDT

Jason Momoa Helped Amber Heard Keep Her 'Aquaman 2' Role, Says Agent

By Alexandria Reeves

Jason Momoa, Amber Heard — (Photo : Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Amber Heard was almost cut from the "Aquaman" franchise, but Jason Momoa saved her.

Amid the ongoing legal battle between Heard and Johnny Depp, fans have been petitioning for the actress's removal from the franchise. She almost lost her Mera role, though, but her co-star played a huge role in making her keep the character.

Entertainment industry expert Kathryn Arnold testified on Heard's behalf this week. She mentioned that Momoa and director James Wan stood by Heard as they were adamant that the actress should reprise her role.

For Arnold, the release of "Aquaman" became a gamechanger in the actress's career. However, her road to stardom was purportedly affected by Depp after he defamed her by saying that her abuse accusations were hoaxes.

"It was that moment where not only was she a good actor, but she was now world-renowned because she was in the most successful film ... for DC Comics," Arnold said. "It was just this extraordinary moment for her, for her career to take off."

She testified that if Depp and his team never spoke those statements, Heard's career would have reached those of Gal Gadot and Ana de Armas.

As of press time, though, Momoa has not publicly spoken about who he sides with in the defamation trial. But he offered a subtle sign after the Pride of Gypsies recently followed a number of celebrities on Instagram - including Depp.

But GameRant noted that there is another theory suggesting that Momoa only followed Heard's ex-husband as part of his PR team's plan and advice.

Update on Petition About Amber Heard's Removal From "Aquaman 2"

Arnold's testimony came while the change.org petition "Remove Amber Heard from Aquaman 2" reached 4.3 million signatures.

The petition, which started in 2020 to support Depp in his UK trial, is addressed to the Senior Vice President of Publicity and Communications of DC Warner Bros., Courtney Simmons, and DC Entertainment.

It initially had 150,000 goal. But it is now few hundred thousands away from reaching its current 4.5 million goal.

A user named Jeanne Larson started it, saying that Heard should lose everything just like how Depp did. The petition's description enumerated her abusive behavior, including her 2009 arrest after the actress abused her domestic partner Tasya Van Ree numerous times.

"As Amber Heard is a known and proven domestic abuser, Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment should and must remove Heard from their Aquaman 2 film project," Larson said. "They must not ignore the suffering of Heard's victims, and must not glamorize a domestic abuser."