The narrative of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial is already being turned into a movie, despite appeals still being filed.
According to People Magazine, “Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial” will recount the story as a Tubi original movie using information taken directly from the news.
Depp will be portrayed by Mark Hapka from “Days of Our Lives,” and Heard by Megan Davis from “Famous.” The script was written by comedy writer Guy Nicolucci.
From April through June, a six-week trial in Virginia pitted Heard, 36, against Depp, 59. Depp sued Heard in 2019, claiming that she had defamed him by claiming to have been the victim of domestic violence in a December 2018 Washington Post op-ed. At the time, he requested $50 million in damages. Heard filed a countersuit, accusing Depp of abusing her, and sought $100 million in compensation.
The jury returned judgments on June 1, 2022, concluding that both Depp and Heard had slandered one another.
The choice was clearly in Depp’s favour. Three of his claims against Heard were successful, and the jury awarded him compensatory damages of $10 million and punitive damages of an extra $5 million.
Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages and one of her three counterclaim victories from the jury.
Their legal teams were also in the public glare because of the trial’s intense attention. In the series, Melissa Marty will play Camille Vasquez, Depp’s attorney.
Heard changed legal representation in August. She will be represented by David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown in the appeal of the judgments. Marry Carrig will portray Elaine Bredehoft, her attorney during the trial.
The title of “Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial” includes “Hot Take” in it for a purpose, according to Tubi’s Chief Content Officer, Adam Lewinson.
“This Tubi Original was fast-tracked into production with our partners at MarVista to capture a timely perspective on a topic that entered the cultural zeitgeist, giving a distinct image of what millions witnessed play out in the headlines throughout the summer,” says MarVista.
On September 30, “Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial” will be streamable.