A-listers called to testify in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case

Depp sued Heard for $50 million after she wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence. Photo / Getty Images

James Franco, Paul Bettany and Elon Musk will be called to testify in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation dispute.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor sued his ex-wife for $50 million after she wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence, though she didn't name her former spouse, and in return, the Danish Girl actress countersued for $100 million.

After both cases were given the green light to proceed, a star-studded witness list has now been revealed, with a number of big names facing the possibility of having to testify during next month's trial in Virginia.

According to TMZ, Franco and Musk - who Depp previously accused of having affairs with the Aquaman actress - are on Heard's witness list and will offer their testimony via video link.

Animal Kingdom actress Ellen Barkin is also on Heard's witness list, as well as representatives from Disney, Warner Bros, WME, the ACLU, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Depp has asked Bettany to testify on his behalf, with texts between the two actors previously read out during the Black Mass actor's failed libel case against The Sun newspaper, who had branded him a "wife beater".

And that's not all, as emails between the Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them actor and both J.K. Rowling and Jack White will be addressed, as well as correspondence between Heard and her Aquaman co-star Jason Momoa, directors James Wan and Zack Snyer, and CAA boss Bryan Lourd.

WandaVision star Bettany previously admitted it was "embarrassing" having his and Depp's 2013 correspondence discussed in court.

He said: "And we live in a world without context. I didn't know Johnny when he was married to Amber. I knew him before. But we hadn't spoken for years. During the marriage I didn't know them.

"So I wasn't around for any of that."

The court case - which included Depp telling the court he and Bettany had taken drugs and drank alcohol together - was a "very surreal moment" for the 50-year-old star and something he felt uncomfortable talking about.

He explained: "Because I know how this works. Anything that you say is oxygen for a fire. And there's just no f****** fire.

"The only real way to deal with this elegantly is to say: I'm not sure there's anybody who has one of these devices [a smartphone] that would feel comfortable having a team of lawyers scour their private text messages."

The text exchange that was discussed in court began with a message Depp - who has repeatedly denied allegations he attacked his ex-wife - sent to Bettany which read: "Let's burn Amber."

The Wimbledon actor replied: "I'm not sure we should burn Amber. She is delightful company and pleasing on the eye. We could of course do the English course of action and perform a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool."

His friend wrote: "Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead."

Paul then allegedly responded: "My thoughts entirely. Let's be certain before we pronounce her a witch."