While I'm not one of those who are anxiously awaiting the four sequels to James Cameron's AVATAR, I know better than to bet against the director, and I'll admit to some degree of curiosity about where Cameron plans on taking the story of the Na'vi. Much of the original cast have returned for the sequels, but there are a few new additions as well, including David Thewlis (WONDER WOMAN).
When David Thewlis' involvement was first announced, there was no indication who he would be playing, but in a recent interview with Total Film, the actor confirmed that he would be playing a Na'vi.
I am a Na’vi, I’m a blue thing in it – which I didn’t quite understand when I went to meet [Cameron]. I was quite surprised when I got offered that. I’m fascinated to see how I’m going to look, because they sort of make them look a bit like oneself. It’s fantastic!
"I’ve got no idea what my scenes will be like because there are about 16 guys in the room with video cameras but they’re just shooting reference shots for Jim [Cameron] to look at later," Thewlis said. "What those guys are shooting will never be on the screen, what’s being shot is obviously on these sensors. There are about 200 around the room, doing their thing." While the actor has been involved in his fair share of big-budget films full of visual effects, it seems that the AVATAR sequels are on another level, to the point where Thewlis felt like he was starting his career all over again. "For the first time, I felt like a total newcomer, like it was my first job," Thewlis said. "I was on set having been working for 35 years on film sets and I was like, 'So what do we do? What’s that doing here? Why is he doing that? Do we do it now?' I felt very naïve. And of course, I was, because none of the rules applied from everything I’ve learned."
Much like every other movie out there, production on the AVATAR sequels was halted earlier this year due to COVID-19, but New Zealand is in the process of getting back to work so director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau have flown down to rejoin the production. However, they'll have to adhere to a government-enforced 14-day period of self-isolation before they can physically get back to the set. The four AVATAR sequels are slated to hit theaters on December 17, 2021, December 22, 2023, December 19, 2025, and December 17, 2027.