Hicks: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard cool off romance

Amber Heard reportedly "freaked out" over all the attention her new relationship with Johnny Depp has received and has told him she wants to cool things off.

Uh ... sorry about that.

Last month it was widely reported Heard broke up with her girlfriend, artist-photographer Tasya van Ree, only to hook up with her recently single "The Rum Diary" co-star. Which would make them, quite possibly, not a bad-looking couple.

However, RadarOnline reports things have cooled down.

So they got married?

"Johnny and Amber were definitely involved," a source told the website, of the couple who met on set while Depp was still involved with his partner of 14 years, Vanessa Paradis, and Heard was still with Ree.

The source didn't suggest that either cheated on their former partner, but said that the two actors "definitely had chemistry that carried over from the set," and they just happened to find themselves single at the right time.

Funny how that works out, right Brad and Angelina?

The source said Depp and Heard hooked up for months, long before Depp's split with Paradis became public.

"They did a really good job of keeping their relationship on the down low for a while, especially since many people assumed that Amber was only into girls."

Maybe it was all that eyeliner he wore in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

But Heard allegedly "freaked" out when it was reported she was seeing Depp.

"She

prides herself on being free-thinking and independent -- not some homewrecker trying to sleep her way to the top. As soon as the media started publicizing the romance, she told Johnny that she needed some space," said the source.

"She really likes Johnny, but she doesn't like the drama. She isn't really sure what is going to happen with them, but just wants the attention to cool down before anything progresses," the source said.

JACKSONS WARRING OVER MICHAEL'S ESTATE: Who knew the Jacksons could be so entertaining without Michael?

Randy, Jerm! aine, Ja net, Tito and Rebbie Jackson all signed a letter, demanding that the executors of Michael's estate -- John Branca and John McClain -- step down, claiming the executors are failing and the stress caused their mother Katherine to suffer a stroke, according to TMZ.

Sources connected with the estate are now striking back, telling TMZ they believe Randy and Jermaine in particular are strapped for cash and know when Katherine dies, they won't have access to Michael's fortune because the money then goes to charity and in trust for Michael's children.

How is it that anyone in this family doesn't have enough money? Can't they go out and sing for some?

TMZ's sources say Randy and Jermaine say Katherine is in need of a conservatorship of which they, of course, would act as guardians for a cool $70,000 a month.

Katherine's people have denied she had a stroke, as has Michael's daughter, Paris. The 14-year-old wrote on Twitter earlier this week "i am going to clarify right now that what has been said about my grandmother is a rumor and nothing has happened, she is completely fine."

She added, "i'd like to know who made up the rumor... i will defend my beloved family member with all i have, even if it means from other family members."

Don't they teach kids how to capitalize anymore?

Minutes later, Paris sent a message directed to her uncle Randy, which said, "@randyjackson8 hello dear FAMILY member i don't appreciate you telling everyone things that aren't true thank you very much."

When one of her followers suggested Paris should have respect for Randy, she replied, "Maybe he should have respect for his mother."

Ouch.

Paris has since deleted the tweets.

As for accusations about the estate failing, TMZ says court documents just revealed the estate has grossed nearly half a billion dollars, wiping out Michael massive debt.

In other words, the giraffe is paid off.

Through a rep, Jermaine released a statement saying, "I note that this 'story' co! mes from 'sources close to the estate.' It, therefore, does not surprise me that such a wildly false claim is being invented, presumably to deflect attention away from this family's very real concerns about the estate. This claim is as far-fetched as it is untrue, but such are the anti-Jackson falsehoods we have come to expect from 'sources close to the estate.'"

"I will reiterate that this family's first and foremost concern is our mother's health, welfare and well-being. Nothing else."

Of course not.

DARK KNIGHT DOES WELL, DESPITE SHOOTINGS: Despite the tragic shooting at a midnight screening in Aurora, Colo. that left 12 dead, "The Dark Knight Rises" enjoyed record-breaking midnight business. But now Christopher Nolan's epic superhero film faces the uphill tough task of rolling out in theaters nationwide in the aftermath of the massacre.

According to the Hollywood reporter, Warner Bros. has no plans to change the film's release plan. "The Dark Knight Rises" opened at 12:01 a.m. Friday in more than 3,700 locations across the country, grossing a record $30.6 million. That's the second-best number of all time outside of the final Harry Potter pic ($43.5 million).

By mid day Friday, Dark Knight will be playing in more than 4,400 theaters in North America.

Insiders at various studios say they've heard of no theater closings because of the shooting, but they'll be watching to see how the tragedy affects box office.

"The company is devastated, but everything is moving forward," one Warners executive said.

The movie beat the $30.2 million earned by The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1, which had the advantage of being released in 3D, which usually calls for higher ticket prices.

Warners, along with theater owners and the Motion Picture Association of America, offered its condolences to the families of the victims in an official statement.

The National Association of Theater Owners also issued a statement, saying it is working closely with local law enf! orcement agencies and reviewing security procedures.

In 1999, grosses for "The Matrix" weren't impacted to a major degree after a shooting inside a theater that left three people dead.

SPICE GIRLS TO REUNITE AT OLYMPICS: The London Olympics will feature the Spice Girls at its Aug. 12 closing ceremony, according to Us Weekly.

No ... really.

Ginger (Geri Halliwell), 39, Baby (Emma Bunton), 36, Sporty (Melanie Chisholm), 38, Scary (Melanie Brown), 37, and Posh (Victoria Beckham), 38, are all expected to show; the group will perform two of their singles, including the 1996 fan favorite "Wannabe." (George Michael, The Who and Jessie J are also slated to perform at the event.)

Last month, the Spice Girls -- who split up in 2001 -- reunited for the first time since their 2008 reunion tour to announce the creation of a West End musical based on some of their biggest hits, a show titled "Viva Forever."

So this will be a reunion of their reunion, after their reunion.

"I loved what the Spice Girls did for women's confidence," producer Judy Craymer said during a press conference. "There's something very empowering about them."

Contact Tony Hicks at thicks@bayareanewsgroups .com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks.

JULY 21 IN HISTORY

Saturday is July 21, the 203rd day of 2012. There are 163 days left in the year.

1773: Pope Clement XIV issued an order suppressing the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. (The Society was restored by Pope Pius VII in 1814.)

1861: During the Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Va., resulting in a Confederate victory.

1925: The so-called "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, Tenn., with John T. Scopes convicted of violating state law for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned on a technicality.)

1930: President Herbert Hoover signed an executive o! rder est ablishing the Veterans Administration (later the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

1944: American forces landed on Guam during World War II.

1949: The U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.

1952: The Democratic National Convention, which would nominate Adlai Stevenson for president, opened in Chicago.

1959: The NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was christened by first lady Mamie Eisenhower at Camden, N.J.

1961: Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a suborbital pattern around the Earth, flying aboard the Liberty Bell 7.

1969: Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin blasted off from the moon aboard the ascent stage of the lunar module for docking with the command module.

1972: The Irish Republican Army carried out 22 bombings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing nine people and injuring 130 in what became known as "Bloody Friday."

1980: Draft registration began in the United States for 19- and 20-year-old men.

2002: Telecommunications giant WorldCom Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection about a month after disclosing it had inflated profits by nearly $4 billion through deceptive accounting. Ernie Els won the British Open in the first sudden-death finish in the 142-year history of the tournament.

2007: Doctors removed five small growths from President George W. Bush's colon after he temporarily transferred the powers of his office to Vice President Dick Cheney under the rarely invoked 25th Amendment. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final volume of the wizard series by J.K. Rowling went on sale.

2011: The 30-year-old space shuttle program ended as Atlantis landed at Cape Canaveral, Fla., after the 135th shuttle flight. Eurozone leaders agreed to a sweeping deal that would grant Greece a massive new bailout and radically reshape the currency union's rescue fund. The NFL canceled its Hall of Fame game between St. Louis and Chicago despite owners voti! ng in fa vor of a tentative deal to end a lockout.

BIRTHDAYS

Movie director Norman Jewison (86), former Attorney General Janet Reno (74), actor Edward Herrmann (69), singer Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) (64), cartoonist Garry Trudeau (64), comedian-actor Robin Williams (61), comedian Jon Lovitz (55), actress Ali Landry (39), actor Josh Hartnett (34), reggae singer Damian Marley (34), MLB All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia (32), singer Blake Lewis ("American Idol") (31), actor Jamie Waylett ("Harry Potter" films) (23).

Associated Press