Johnny Depp ‘tried to have Amber Heard removed’ from Aquaman

Depp allegedly wrote to his sister, who had influence with Warner Bros at the time, and said he wanted Heard ‘replaced’

Johnny Depp allegedly tried to get Amber Heard replaced on the film Aquaman after their relationship ended.

The Hollywood Reporter alleges that Depp wrote to his sister, producer Christi Dembrowski, who previously had a deal with Warner Bros and still had influence there.

He allegedly wrote: “I want her replaced on the WB film.”

THR reported that, during Depp’s trial against The Sun, the actor admitted this was a reference to the Warner Bros film Aquaman, in which Heard starred.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Depp and Heard for comment.

Last week, a petition to remove Amber Heard from the Aquaman sequel received over 1.5 million signatures.

The actor’s role in the DC franchise, where she plays Aquaman’s (Jason Momoa) love interest Mera, came under scrutiny from fans after Depp lost his libel case in November.

The petition – which states a goal of reaching three million signatures – has been set up by fans who claim that Heard “has systematically crusaded to ruin Depp in Hollywood” since the couple’s divorce was finalised in 2017.

The petition’s online page goes on to accuse Heard of lying and “creating false accounts of [Depp] being the abuser”.

The actor has since spoken out against those calling for her removal from the DC film. She told Entertainment Weekly: “Paid rumours and paid campaigns on social media don’t dictate [casting decisions] because they have no basis in reality.”

The 34-year-old continued: “Only the fans actually made Aquaman and Aquaman 2 happen. I’m excited to get started next year.”

Amber Heard en 'Aquaman' (Warner Bros)

Depp was recently denied permission to appeal the decision in his libel case, with a high court judge also ordering the actor to make a payment to The Sun’s publishers of around £630,000 in legal fees.

Despite being dropped from Fantastic Beasts 3 after filming just one scene, Depp will still receive his entire $10m (£7.6m) salary.

It has since been announced that Casino Royale star Mads Mikkelsen will replace Depp in the role of evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald.