A newly released image from Avatar: The Way of Water offers our best look yet at Jake and Neytiri’s new family. Released courtesy of Empire, the image shows Jake, played once again by Sam Worthington, seemingly chastising his kids for doing no doubt doing something silly and putting themselves in danger. Whether human or Na’vi, some things will always remain the same.
Avatar: The Way of Water will introduce audiences to Jake and Neytiri’s new family, which will include several native Na’vi children, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), and Tuktirey (Trinity Bliss), as well as the human child Miles Socorro, also known as Spider, who is absent from the new image. Played by The Night Sitter star Jack Champion, Spider is taken into the brood of Avatar heroes Jake and Neytiri after being born at the now-abandoned military base on Pandora. Too young to be returned to Earth, Jake decides to take the child in as one of their own.
Sigourney Weaver Will Play Jake & Neytiri’s Daughter in the Avatar Sequel
20th Century Studios
The image provides another look at Sigourney Weaver’s return to the Avatar franchise. There has been a mysterious smog surrounding how the actress would return for Avatar: The Way of Water (seeing as she dies during the events of the first Avatar) and it has now been revealed that Weaver will play one of Jake and Neytiri’s children.
Named Kiri, Sigourney Weaver has offered some insight into how she will play an adolescent character saying, “I think we all pretty much remember what we were feeling as adolescents. I certainly do. I was 5’ 10” or 5’ 11” when I was 11. I felt strongly that Kiri would feel awkward a lot of the time. She’s searching for who she is. I was thrilled to be given that challenge by Jim.”
Director James Cameron has also now discussed the challenges presented by an older actor play a much younger character. “As an acting challenge, it’s big,” the filmmaker explained. “We’re gonna have a 60-something actor playing a character [decades younger than] her actual biological age. Sig thought it was all kinds of fun. Sigourney just became younger. She looked younger, she had more energy, and she never quite stepped out of Kiri for our whole capture period. She had a glow on her face and lightness in her step and a fun spirit.”
While these details have now been officially revealed, some questions and theories continue to hover around Kiri and her role in the Avatar sequel. Notably, Kiri has been adopted by Jake and Neytiri, leading many to wonder whether she is the reincarnation of Dr. Grace Augustine, Weaver’s previous character, who has been resurrected by Eywa.
Directed by James Cameron and produced by 20th Century Studios, Avatar: The Way of Water stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, CCH Pounder, Matt Gerald, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, Vin Diesel, and CJ Jones.
Avatar: The Way of Water is due for release on December 16, 2022, with the following three sequels to be released, respectively, on December 20, 2024, December 18, 2026, and December 22, 2028.
