Whether or not you landed in Camp Johnny or Camp Amber during the former couple’s protracted legal proceedings, you’re likely well aware of the accusations levied by each.
And, regardless of actual fault, both of their careers carry scars from the highly-publicized legal battle. Johnny Depp may have walked away from the trail with a victory in his back pocket, but his career in Hollywood isn’t likely to recover. Nor is Amber Heard’s, if trailers for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are any indication.
Heard is barely a side note in trailers for the incoming DCEU conclusion, leaving little doubt as to her future in the franchise. To be fair, she’s in good company as she departs DC joined by the likes of Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot, but Heard’s departure was far less amicable.
With so little presence in Aquaman’s promotional material, it seems clear that Heard’s time among DC’s lineup of heroes is over. It’s still unclear whether Jason Momoa is also on the way out, given the DCU shake-ups James Gunn has planned, but assuming the King of Atlantis has a future in the revamped DC direction, there are plenty of actresses who can easily swim in as a sub-aquatic addition to the next Aquaman release — or straight-up replace the big man himself.
Mera
Its exceedingly unlikely that Mera — or Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, for that matter — will survive the move over to James Gunn’s new DCU, but if the character does return in the future, its unlikely she’ll be played by Amber Heard. Should the DCU see worth in maintaining the character, particularly if Momoa does manage to maintain his role, a few stunning actresses could easily take on the part.
Emilia Clarke
She recently enjoyed her bit MCU debut, and — despite the absolute mess that was Secret Invasion — she’s more than capable of taking on a character like Mera. There’s no doubt Ms. Clarke can pull off red hair (after all, she made white hair a new trend during Game of Thrones) and she’s got the presence — and the eyebrows — to make Mera a more impacting character than Heard ever did.
Sophie Turner
Alternatively, we have someone with an established history of pulling off those red locks. Why not, after all, right? Heard’s digitally-enhanced red hair looked great in Aquaman, but wouldn’t the task be a touch easier if the actress behind the character sported more natural looking hair? And, while Turner hasn’t enjoyed a role as challenging as Sansa Stark in a good few years, she proved to us — over at least seven seasons in Game of Thrones — that she’s up to pretty much anything we can throw at her.
Andrina
Now onto a character far more likely to enjoy a future in the DCU. Once again, this is largely reliant on the franchise maintaining course with Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, but — thus far at least — the big man hasn’t been booted from the role.
With that in mind, the plot poised to unfurl in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could be canon in future DC releases. Arthur’s child is a clear focus in trailers for the late 2023 film, which tells us that, no matter what, Andrina has a future in the franchise.
Sadie Sink
In order to properly honor both of the young Adrina’s parents, I’m providing one option that looks far more like Mera and one that looks far more like Arthur. In the DCEU, Aquaman is — fittingly, in my opinion — played by someone far from the character’s lily white roots, which opens the door to far more diversity in future films. Which means casting Sadie Sink would be a step backward, but one we can easily see DC taking.
Should they decide Adrina favors her mother more than her father, however, Sadie Sink is a shoe-in for the role. She’s a talented up-and-comer with a built-in fan base, and she’s proven, over several seasons of Stranger Things and films like The Whale, that she easily has what it takes to dominate in any role.
Auliʻi Cravalho
Despite my genuine enjoyment of Sadie Sink, this is the real answer. Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho, whose voice you’ll recognize as Moana herself, is easily the best choice for this role. She’s Hawaiian, like Jason Momoa, and she’s got talent absolutely leaking out her ears. She would easily be the best choice for the future of the Aquaman franchise, bringing the new era of DC to gorgeous fruition.
Hila
If Mera’s time in the DCU really is up, there’s plenty of room for an alternate Atlantean heartthrob, albeit one with less pure intentions. Mera’s twin sister, Hila, has yet to make her big entrance in DC’s live-action releases, but she might just be the perfect avenue to ousting Amber Heard — which the franchise clearly intends to do — while still maintaining a lively redhead for fans to thirst after.
Courtney Eaton
She doesn’t boast the name recognition of Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho or Emilia Clarke, but its practically criminal that Courtney Eaton has yet to make an appearance in Aquaman. One of far too few Native actors to reach acclaim in Hollywood, this Māori star is a shoe-in for the franchise. She’s already cut her teeth on action-packed releases like Mad Max: Fury Road, and she’s a great age to step into a massive franchise like the incoming DCU. She might be a bit young to play Mera’s sister, but she’s got the talent, look, and potential to carry this franchise in a whole new direction.
Keisha Castle-Hughes
The same can be said for Keisha Castle-Hughes, who might actually suit Hila’s age a bit more. She’s a few years older than Eaton, and — in order for their relation to the 37-year-old Heard-played Mera to make sense — she might just be the perfect fit for the role. You might recognize her from her time on Game of Thrones as one of the Sand Snakes, and the experience she gained on the set of the cultural phenomenon will surely serve her future career well. She and Amber Heard don’t look much alike, but neither do my twin nieces, so why not?
Aquagirl
Another easy potential for those future DC releases is Aquagirl, an obvious next step if the DCU decides to keep its connection to water-themed heroes. We suspect that, if Momoa doesn’t survive the move over to the DCU, Aquaman and any related characters will be tossed out. Who better to pivot over to than Aquagirl, another Atlantean with plenty of fighting know-how? Tula Marius, the first iteration of Aquagirl, could make for a great new direction for James Gunn, particularly if the right actress is cast.
Halle Bailey
I mean, she’s clearly already familiar with the challenges of those underwater scenes, and Halle Bailey’s star is only set to rise higher following her appearance in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid. She presents a perfect option for a major shift over at DC, with her youth, talent, and spectacular singing voice all presenting unique and intriguing possibilities for a far less cut-and-dried future for the franchise.
As Aquagirl, she could represent a new generation — and a new era — for DC, carrying a team of youthful superheroes to success.
Nathalie Emmanuel
Nathalie Emmanuel dazzled as Missandei in HBO’s Game of Thrones, and the years since have given her plenty of time to stretch her wings and branch out into other roles. She’s spectacular in dramatic roles, which GoT taught us, but her talent in horror, comedy, and every other genre available shines through her resume, which has seen her enjoy cross-genre success for decades now.
Emmanuel brings a serene, more mature potential to the character of Aquagirl, separate from Bailey’s youthful charm. She’d provide us with a very different take on the character, but one we’d absolutely love to see.
Dolphin
James Gunn is well established as a fan of fringe, lesser-known comic books. His work on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise made the characters household names, but ahead of their 2014 debut film, they were relatively obscure. Gunn’s tendency toward the lesser-known could see him veer away from the common characters — the Meras, Andrinas, or Aquagirls — instead leaning on a popular, but periphery, character named Dolphin. She’s not unknown, by any means, but Dolphin’s relative obscurity could make her the perfect fit for Gunn’s new direction. Add to that her isolated upbringing — which would perfectly explain her distance from other, established DC characters — and her water-based abilities, and we may have found a perfect fit of the future of DC.
Zendaya
I mean, how could Zendaya not cinch a spot on this list? She’s one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising stars, after all, and her talent seemingly knows no bounds. She’s part of several massive properties, headlining HBO’s Euphoria, starring alongside Tom Holland in the MCU, and delighting audiences in Dune. She’s utterly unstoppable, and there’s no reason for her not to bring that talent to the DCU.
Sure, she’s already an MCU staple, but why shouldn’t she spread the wealth to the other half of comics heavy hitters? She’d certainly give the burgeoning franchise a boost, and her take on Dolphin could provide a unique and interesting change from the tired and true form of the DCEU.
Siena Agudong
We all love us some Zendaya, but it may be best for a lesser-known actress to take on the role of Dolphin. The character is traditionally white — but come on now, almost all comic book characters are traditionally white — so I really don’t feel bad about adding some diversity into the mix.
Casting Siena Aqudong in the role would allow one of the best things the DCEU did — casting Jason Momoa as Aquaman — to persist, by maintaining a Hawaiian native in a leading, water-based role. She hasn’t been in much just yet, but her smattering of film and television roles — from F9 and Resident Evil to 2019’s No Good Nick — have well-prepared her to step into her first major blockbuster.
