Discovery+ has ordered a two-episode documentary that will chronicle the breakdown of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s marriage. The project, which is titled Johnny vs Amber, will showcase how the duo’s divorce became the celebrity court case of the decade, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Discovery streaming service has also said that each movie will be told from one of the entertainers’ perspectives. The network explained: “Johnny’s film will portray that he found himself married to a Machiavellian liar who would stop at nothing to protect her image. While Amber’s film explores how she married the man of her dreams only to see him turn into a violent drug-fueled monster.”
Johnny vs Amber will include interviews with, and footage of, the lawyers involved on both sides of the case and the people who are close to the Academy Award-nominated actor and the Saturn Award-nominated actress. The documentary, which will begin streaming on Discovery+ this fall, will also feature footage and audio recordings that were filmed by the stars themselves.
Depp and Heard began dating in 2012, the year after the release of their comedy-drama, The Rum Dairy. The former couple was married in a civil ceremony in 2015, but the actress filed for a divorce from her now ex-husband the following year. The case ended in a U.K. High Court verdict against the actor.
Clare Laycock, senior VP, planning & insights, head of entertainment, at Discovery commented on Johnny vs Amber, which is being produced by Optomen. She stated: “The series provides an in-depth insight into the epic battle that powered #JusticeforJohnnyDepp and #IStandWithYouAmberHeard fan campaigns and the very public High Court case that gripped us all. Optomen has done a fantastic job turning this multi-layered story into something both engrossing and horrifying.”
Charlotte Reid, the VP commissioning, entertainment, at Discovery also chimed in on the documentary: “The story of what happened between Johnny and Amber continues to be hugely divisive, between fans and the public at large. We set out to make a documentary that would explore the story from each of their perspectives, so the viewer can go beyond the headlines, understand who they are, and decide who they should believe in this complex human story. We think it’s a compellingly contemporary story on truth and lies that we hope will open up a conversation with our viewers on Discovery+.”
Nick Hornby, the co-CEO at Optomen, added: “Through the tapes, home videos and text messages shown in court, these films give viewers a rare and important insight into a marriage that went tragically wrong, and to better understand the hugely important issue of domestic violence.”
The two-part documentary was ordered for Discovery+ by Laycock, commissioned by Reid and executive produced by Matt Reid for Discovery. It’s being executive produced by Hornby and Fran Baker for Optomen.