While Jason Momoa Got a Staggering $15M Salary for Aquaman 2, Amber Heard Fought To Get Just 13% of His Pay
Ever since the verdict of the defamation trial came out, Amber Heard’s life turned upside down. The Zombieland star has seen her stocks take a tumble, with voices clamoring for an end to her acting career going exponentially. The greatest ramification of this boycott for Heard could have been getting fired from Aquaman 2. But the studio has refused to be bogged down by the pressure, even though the clamor around casting Heard has not died down. That does not mean that Heard walked away unscathed. For Heard, the cost was a meteoric pay cut.
Johnny Depp fans wanted Amber Heard to be shown the door out
Amber Heard and Jason Momoa were the protagonists in James Wan’s Aquaman. The DC Extended Universe movie took fans into the underground realm of Atlantis, where a conflict for the throne was unfolding. In the end, it was Jason Momoa’s Arthur who emerged as the victor (Surprise! Surprise!).
The movie was well received by both fans and critics, becoming a huge success for Warner Bros. The much-anticipated sequel was expected to fare just as well as the first. But recasting Heard as Mera had cast doubt over the commercial prospects of the film. Rumors that the Rum Diary star might be fired from the role were gaining traction.
Warner Bros. cut down on Amber Heard’s role (and earnings)
Warner Bros. has other plans though. The studio refused to be bogged down by the pressure exerted by the Pirates of the Caribbean actor’s fans. The 36-year-old is still a part of the scheme Aquaman 2. And it is in part down to none other than Heard, who repeatedly claimed that a conspiracy against her was afoot.
Nonetheless, there were costs for her though. According to sources, her role is a shadow of how it was originally envisioned. But the cuts don’t end there. While the Game of Thrones star had made $3 million for his role in Aquaman, while the Never Back Down star was paid $1 million. As if a pay disparity didn’t exist already, the studio further cut down on the latter’s share of the cookie in Aquaman 2.
Amber Heard earns 13% of what Jason Momoa did
It is being reported that Heard was paid $2 million for her reduced role in Aquaman 2. On the other hand, her male counterpart is set to earn a stellar $15 million for portraying Arthur. This wage difference sees the Dune star grab the lion’s share of the earnings. The Drive Angry star earns only 13% of her male counterpart’s earnings.
The skewed pay scale must be a succor to infuriated fans of the What’s Eating Gilbert Grape star, who is striving to find his own way back into Hollywood. In the absence of acting opportunities, Depp has turned to a new venture and is reportedly close to buying a tavern in the United Kingdom.
Source: Comic Book
