The world is currently being reintroduced to Avatar, the sensational James Cameron science fiction franchise. Only one released film exists in the franchise so far, but the first sequel – Avatar: The Way of Water – is going to hit theaters across the globe later this year.
In the meantime, that first Avatar movie has been remastered and re-released for a new cinema run before its successor finally arrives. The wait for the sequel has been 13 years in the making, with the original film having premiered in December 2009.
Avatar became the most successful picture in the history of the box office, beating the previous record held by Titanic, another Cameron project. The director had wanted to turn the film into a franchise even before the release of the first, but it took quite some time for plans of a sequel to materialize.
Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington were the two stars of the movie, playing the characters Neytiri and Jake Sully respectively.
While fans cannot wait to see the new Avatar movie, Saldaña and Worthington have been speaking about what it’s like working with Cameron.
What Is Avatar: The Way Of Water About?
From one plot summary of the original Avatar on IMDb, the film told the story of “the lush alien world of Pandora, [home planet of] the Na’vi, beings who appear primitive but are highly evolved. Because the planet's environment is poisonous [to humans], human/Na’vi hybrids, called Avatars, must link to human minds to allow for free movement on Pandora.”
“Jake Sully, a paralyzed former Marine, becomes mobile again through one such Avatar and falls in love with a Na'vi woman [called Neytiri]. As a bond with her grows, he is drawn into a battle for the survival of her world.”
Avatar: The Way of Water is set about a decade after the events of the first film, at the end of which Sully had been completely assimilated into the world of the Na’vi in Pandora.
A synopsis for the sequel reads: “Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their planet.”
What Did Zoe Saldaña Say About Working With James Cameron In The Way Of Water?
Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington recently spoke to Complex Magazine, where they revealed various details about the upcoming film, and their respective careers in general. The Pirates of the Caribbean actress talked about how she grew up in awe of James Cameron’s movies, and what it meant to her to finally get the chance to work with him.
In particular, Saldaña highlighted two previous Cameron films as some of her early inspirations: “Before I became a filmmaker, a storyteller, I was a kid once who watched idols and watched movies and characters that became my heroes,” she said. “And Ellen Ripley [in Aliens] and Sarah Connor [in The Terminator] were my heroes growing up.”
“[Cameron] is responsible for giving me female heroes and then he gives me the opportunity for me to become a hero as well,” Saldaña added. “And in a career that I love so much, doing a craft that I so much respect and adore.”
The MCU star also emphasized the impact that Cameron has on audiences, such that they’re willing to watch his films over and over again.
What Did Sam Worthington Say About Working With James Cameron In The Way Of Water?
Sam Worthington has appeared in his fair share of major big screen productions, including Clash of the Titans, Hacksaw Ridge and Fractured. Still, it could be argued that none of those other roles carry quite the gravitas that comes with being the leading man for the most commercially successful film of all time.
In reality, it is just rewards for the Australian actor, who put everything into becoming Jake Sully for Avatar. Like his co-star Zoe Saldaña, he is also thrilled at the opportunity to have reunited with James Cameron for The Way of Water.
Speaking about him in the conversation with Complex, Worthington said: “Jim raises the bar, but he gives everyone around him the confidence to jump over that bar, and that’s him. He’s a very generous spirit, great storyteller. And he takes a lot out of his time.”
The 46-year-old was also complimentary of Cameron’s decision not to rush the sequels. He said it was a testament to the filmmaker’s commitment to his craft, as opposed to a greed for more money.
