Following a highly publicized and tumultuous legal battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard is indeed returning to acting. The actress, who has faced significant career challenges since the defamation trial, is set to appear in a new play titled "Spirit of the People" by Jeremy O. Harris.

After the defamation trial concluded in June 2022, Heard has largely stayed out of the public eye, focusing on her life and family. She has since welcomed twins, a boy named Ocean and a girl named Agnes, who join her daughter Oonagh Paige. In May 2023, Heard confirmed that she had movies "on the horizon" but didn't provide specific details. Later that June, she attended the Taormina Film Festival in Italy to promote her independent film, "In the Fire," where she plays an American psychiatrist treating a young boy believed to be possessed in Colombia in 1899. The actress described the movie as "a beautiful movie about the almost supernatural effect and force of love".

While "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" was released in December 2023, Heard stated during the defamation trial that she "fought really hard" to remain in the sequel. Despite being a lead in the first "Aquaman" film, her role was significantly reduced in the sequel due to the controversy surrounding the Depp lawsuit. However, producer Peter Safran stated that the production team never planned to remove Heard entirely, believing it was best for the movie to include her alongside James Wan and Jason Momoa.

Now, Heard is making a notable comeback on stage. "Spirit of the People" is part of the 2025 Williamstown Theatre Festival and is directed by Katina Medina Mora. The play, written by Jeremy O. Harris, also stars Brandon Flynn and Lío Mehiel. The play is set to run during the first three weekends of the festival, from July 17 to August 3, in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

The official synopsis for "Spirit of the People" hints at a dramatic morality tale addressing "uncomfortable truths about land and what it means to destroy it." Harris mentioned that he wanted to challenge himself by writing half the play in Spanish, a language he doesn't speak, and incorporating a significant level of prose, which is not his usual style.

This new role marks Heard's first major acting project since the trial and her last screen credits in "In the Fire" and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," both filmed before the 2022 trial. The actress appears ready to move forward, focusing on her career and family. A source close to Heard told People that she is excited about working and filming again and has new energy, focusing on things she loves and putting the trial behind her.