Netflix has released the trailer for Depp v. Heard, the trial between the formerly married actors, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. The Netflix docu-series follows the proceedings of the trial held from April 11 to June 1, 2022, in Fairfax County, Virginia.
The Netflix docu-series is being directed by the Emmy and BAFTA nominee, Emma Cooper. Emma is well known for ‘The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes’ (2022) on Netflix. Netflix isn’t the only one who has made a documentary about the case; since the trial, several documentaries have been made. Tubi also made an original movie titled ‘Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial’.
Depp v. Heard is all set to release on August 16 on Netflix.
Depp v. Heard – The Trial
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2009 while filming ‘The Rum Diary’. They began dating around 2012 and were married in February 2015. A year later, Heard filed for divorce in May 2016 by alleging abuse.
Heard claimed that Depp had abused her physically, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, which Depp denied. In the Virginia Depp v. Heard trial, Depp, as the plaintiff, filed a complaint of defamation against defendant Heard, claiming $50 million in damages. Heard counter-sued Depp, claiming $100 million in damages.
The Jury ruled in favor of Johnny Depp and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Heard. The jury stated that Heard’s references to ‘sexual violence’ and ‘domestic abuse’ were false. Heard won one of the three defamation charges and was awarded $2 million in damages.
Aftermath of the Trial
Depp v. Heard became one of the most talked about events of 2022. More than court proceedings, they were both subject to people’s opinions and an internet trial. Fans of both the actors rushed to their defense and the trail took the internet by storm.
The trial was live-streamed which garnered a huge number of viewers, along with a social media response. Heard’s legal team claimed that the social media coverage may have influenced the verdict. ( which was not the case )
In Netflix’s version, the official synopsis reads “Showing both testimonies side-by-side for the first time, this series explores the trial that set Hollywood ablaze and the online fallout that ensued.”
The trailer for the docu-series showed glimpses of their testimonies from Depp v. Heard. The three-part series is likely to cover three main topics.
- Their marriage
- The Court Trial
- Aftermath
In December 2022, both parties reached a settlement and dropped their appeals, with Depp’s lawyers stating that Depp would receive $1 million from Heard.
