After graphic allegations of abuse, vicious fight recordings, and nasty texting, will Hollywood be ready to receive Johnny Depp or Amber Heard again?
Depp, the star of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” claimed that an American jury brought her back to life when she was awarded an almost total victory in her defamation fight with ex-wife Heard on Wednesday.
Jurors supported Depp’s three allegations that Heard had defamed him and awarded him more than $ 10 million in damages. Heard won a counterclaim that Depp’s lawyer had defamed. The jury awarded Heard $ 2 million.
The sentences had a cost. For six weeks, the televised trial provided vivid details about a troubled marriage and evidence that both Depp and Heard admitted were embarrassing.
Still, Depp is expected to be offered new film roles now that the U.S. jury has backed him after years of legal battle, said Clayton Davis, the publisher’s senior awards editor. of the Hollywood Variety.
“I think Johnny Depp will go back to work. He’ll have a big project,” Davis said after the verdict, noting that Hollywood offers many examples of stars who recovered from very public scandals.
Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant, Roman Polanski and others found new opportunities after serious allegations of misconduct, criminal convictions or misdemeanors. Kevin Spacey has acted in a handful of independent films after being accused in 2018 of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
“We have a culture that allows these people to get back to work,” Davis said.
Less than two years ago, Depp lost a defamation suit in Britain against the tabloid Sun, which he described as a “women’s hit”. A London High Court judge ruled that Depp had repeatedly assaulted Heard. Shortly afterwards, Depp was removed from the “Fantastic Beasts” movie franchise, a spin-off of “Harry Potter.”
Attorney Neama Rahmani called the U.S. trial a “public relations genius” by Depp and his team to rebuild his reputation and career.
On the podium, Depp “was nice. He was believable. He was charismatic. He was charming,” Rahmani said.
Depp denied hitting Heard, while admitting to having a buffet, but said it was only to defend herself or her sister.
Judah Engelmayer, a crisis communications expert representing Harvey Weinstein and others, said she believes Depp’s strong support from fans on social media throughout the trial will increase her position in Hollywood.
The producers “look at the millions of people who gathered with him, who signed petitions against Amber Heard, and they say, ‘Are they willing to come to the movies and pay at the box office?'” Engelmayer said. “I think they’ll put it to the test.”
Judgment revelations may restrict Depp from starring in the family kitchen, Engelmayer said, although he predicted that Depp “will once again be a leading man.”
Heard, who has a much lesser background in Hollywood, was vilified on social media throughout the trial, but Engelmayer believes she will also be offered new acting opportunities. Prior to the trial, Heard filmed his role in “Aquaman 2,” which will be released in March 2023.
Engelmayer said he believes a “socially conscious” filmmaker will offer Heard at least a small role to offer a fresh start to a woman who made allegations of abuse public.
Given the #MeToo movement of recent years, Hollywood would look “hypocritical,” Engelmayer said, “if they don’t give it a role and give it a try again.”