After clear allegations of abuse, recordings of brutal battles and broadcasting of unpleasant text messages, will Hollywood be ready to meet Johnny Depp or Amber Heard again?
Depp, the Pirates of the Caribbean star, said an American jury brought him back to life when he was awarded an almost complete victory in his battle for defamation with his ex-wife Hurd on Wednesday.
Jurors backed up Depp’s three allegations that Hurd had slandered him and awarded him more than $ 10 million in damages. Hurd won a counter-claim that Depp’s lawyer had slandered her. The jury awarded Hurd $ 2 million.
The sentences came at a price. For six weeks, the television trial provided vivid details of the troubled marriage and evidence that Depp and Hurd found embarrassing.
However, Depp is expected to be offered new film roles now that the US jury has backed him after a long court battle, said Clayton Davis, senior editor of the awards at Hollywood’s Variety.
“I think Johnny Depp will work again. He will have a big project, “Davis said after the verdict, noting that Hollywood offers many examples of stars who have recovered from many public scandals.
Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant, Roman Polanski and others have opened up new opportunities after serious allegations of misconduct, criminal convictions or wrongdoing. Kevin Spacey has starred in several independent films after being accused in 2018 of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
“We have a culture that allows these people to work again,” Davis said.
Less than two years ago, Depp lost a defamation lawsuit in Britain against the Sun tabloid, which called him a “woman beater.” A judge at the London Supreme Court ruled that Depp had repeatedly attacked Hurd. Shortly afterwards, Depp was excluded from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, the Harry Potter spin-off.
Lawyer Niama Rahmani called the US trial a “PR genius” by Depp and his team to restore his reputation and career.
Depp was nice on the witness stand. He was credible. He was charismatic. He was charming, “Rahmani said.
Depp denied hitting Hurd while she admitted to hitting Depp, but said it was only to protect herself or her sister.
Jude Engelmeier, a crisis communications expert who represents Harvey Weinstein and others, said he believed Depp’s strong support on social media fans during the trial would improve his position in Hollywood.
The producers are “watching the millions of people who have gathered with him who have signed petitions against Amber Heard, and they will say, ‘Do they want to come to the cinema and pay at the box office?'” Engelmeier said. “I think they’ll try it.”
The revelations in the trial could prevent Depp from participating in family establishments, Engelmeier said, although he predicted that Depp “would be the leading man again.”
Hurd, who has much less experience in Hollywood, was denigrated on social media during the trial, but Engelmeier believes she will also be offered new acting opportunities. Prior to the trial, Hurd filmed his role in Aquaman 2, which is scheduled for release in March 2023.
Engelmeier said he believed a “socially conscious” director would offer Hurd at least a small role to secure a fresh start for a woman who went public with allegations of abuse.
Given the #MeToo movement in recent years, Hollywood will be seen as “hypocritical,” Engelmeier said, “unless given a role and given a chance again.”
Add Comment