Credit: DC Studios (L) / Marvel Studios (R)
A new photo has circulated online that sees Elizabeth Olsen replace Amber Heard as Mera from the DC Extended Universe. As development on James Gunn’s DC Universe reboot continues, could this be a sign?
Credit: Marvel Studios
Both Elizabeth Olsen and Amber Heard are part of huge superhero franchises. The former has played Wanda Maximoff, AKA the Scarlet Witch, in Kevin Feige’s Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2014, when she appeared in the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She would make her proper MCU debut as Wanda in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, before going on to appear in many more films like Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
Before her more villainous role in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange sequel, Olsen turned her hand to bringing Wanda to the small screen in Marvel Studios’ first-ever Disney+ show, WandaVision. The nine-episode limited series found Wanda and a resurrected Vision (Paul Bettany) living in a small town shrouded in mystery. Olsen’s character would go on to sacrifice herself in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness—or did she?
Credit: Marvel Studios
A new photo has surfaced that puts her in Mera’s boots–the DC Comics marine princess featured in Warner Bros. DC Extended Universe and a character created for the screen by Amber Heard.
Credit: DC Studios
Heard had a massively reduced role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Wan previously said it was due to the sequel focusing more on being a buddy comedy than a romantic adventure like the first movie. Others believe her reduced screen time was due to the negative press the actress received after being found guilty of defaming her former husband, Johnny Depp, in the 2022 defamation case in Fairfax County, Virginia. For now, at least, Heard is officially out of the DC franchise.
There are no current plans to bring a new Mera to the future DCU, but a fan has taken to social media and replaced Amber Heard with Elizabeth Olsen.
Skaiwitch posted the photo to Instagram:
With the actress’s popularity only growing with her ongoing role as the Scarlet Witch in the MCU, could she be someone to keep an eye on when more DCU casting gets underway? This is not the first time Amber Heard has been replaced by someone else as Mera, either.
Presently, James Gunn is developing what will be the first major motion picture in the DCU: Superman (2025). The upcoming film sees David Corenswet star as the titular superhero, bringing Clark Kent/Kal-El to the big screen for the first time since Henry Cavill donned the cape in the old DCEU. Corenswet will be joined by Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane.
Credit: DC Studios
Superman will be part of the DCU’s first chapter, Gods and Monsters. The initial installment will include films such as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (which will star House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock) and The Brave and the Bold, featuring Batman. TV projects in this interconnected universe include Creature Commandos, Waller, and Paradise Lost. Gunn recently confirmed that the second season of the John Cena-starring Peacemaker would also be part of the DCU continuity.
As for Elizabeth Olsen and Amber Heard, the former is slated to next appear in the dystopian movie The Assessment (TBD) alongside Alicia Vikander, while Heard looks to have an open slate. Her latest films included In the Fire (2023) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Olsen may also reappear in the MCU later this year in the Agatha series starring Kathryn Hahn as sorceress Agatha Harkness.
