There are a number of world events deconstructed and endlessly debated by people online on almost a daily basis. Media circuses in the vein of the notorious O.J. Simpson trial seem to happen more frequently, albeit usually less intense. However, with the many issues plaguing our world, it takes a special case to garner an outrageous explosion of online reactions. Last year’s defamation trial between A-list movie star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife, Amber Heard, became that case.
Netflix has just released the trailer for Depp v. Heard. The documentary is split up into three parts and doesn’t look to be a play-by-play of the trial itself, but more of the impact it had on the world as the public would hang on every moment from every outlet — from streaming to television to social media.
The synopsis from Netflix’s Tudum site reads,
“Depp v. Heard, the new limited series from director Emma Cooper, covers the trial with the goal of presenting a neutral overview of what happens when the court of public opinion starts to overshadow reality. For the first time, the three-part series presents Depp and Heard’s testimony side-by-side, using 200 hours of live-streamed trial coverage from the mainstream news and citizen commentators on TikTok and Twitter. Ultimately, Depp v. Heard interrogates the role social media played in the trial, raising provocative, uncomfortable questions about how the conversations happening outside the courtroom may have influenced the outcome.”
Those who kept up with the drama know how much feelings and condemnation swayed from one party to the other multiple times. For some timeframe before the trial, Johnny Depp was not reflected in the best light with all the claims Heard had released. Then, it would be revealed that Heard was abusive in their relationship and, along with character testimony from Depp’s family, he was painted in a better light while Heard was unveiled as an aggressor who would seemingly set Depp up for public scrutiny. Things became incredibly grey during proceedings, and even after the conclusion of the trial, the debate is still up in the air – and innocent or not, Heard and Depp’s reputations gained an increased amount of smudges.
Depp v. Heard premieres on Netflix on August 16.