Johnny Depp requests delay to US defamation trial against Amber Heard

Johnny Depp’s legal team have requested his upcoming US defamation trial against Amber Heard be delayed to avoid clashing with a movie project.

The Hollywood actor, 57, is suing his ex-wife in the US in a case that’s separate from his libel trial against News Group Newspaper in the UK.

The trial had been due to start in early 2020, but Depp’s lawyers have filed papers asking for it to be delayed as the actor is now due to start shooting Fantastic Beasts in January.

The movie shoot has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, and filming now clashes with the trial.

Depp’s team filed a motion for continuance asking the court to delay the trial until a date between March and June 2021.

The documents, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, state: “When the Court set the current trial date in this case, Mr. Depp understood that Warner Bros planned to shoot Fantastic Beasts 3 in London long before 11 January, 2021.

“Covid-19 disrupted the studio’s plans, causing repeated postponements.

“With conditions in London having improved somewhat, Warner Bros has now set a shooting schedule that conflicts with the trial date in this case…

“Mr. Depp would face potential liability for breach of contract should he fail to comply with the schedule contractually dictated by Warner Bros’

“Though Mr Depp is eager to proceed to trial, he faces an untenable situation over which he has no control.”

Depp is suing Heard in the US for defamation over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018.

It was headlined: “I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.”

Depp is not mentioned by name in the piece, but he contends the piece implies he was violent towards her – a claim he strenuously denies.

He has insisted he never physically assaulted Heard during their relationship and accused her of being violent towards him.

He is suing his ex-wife for $50 million (£37.2 million) in Virginia, where the Washington Post is printed, as the state allows plaintiffs to pursue defamation claims even if they are not explicitly named.

Claimants can in Virginia can sue for defamation by inference, implication or insinuation.

Depp’s libel trial against News Group Newspaper over an article that appeared in The Sun concluded in July.

A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.