Avatar: The Way of Water writers say ‘crazy’ James Cameron idea was in danger of making film ‘silly’
‘I think the audience kind of goes with it,’ film’s co-writer said
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The writers of Avatar: The Way of Water have opened up about the scene they thought could have been too risky.
Earlier this month, James Cameron unveiled his expensive sequel, 13 years after the original was released.
The film, which has received mostly positive reviews, has become a box office hit, and is quickly making its way up 2022’s global box office rankings.
Its writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver have now discussed the film in a lengthy interview, and specifically zoned in on a moment they believed to be a “high-wire act”.
The sequence in question explores the friendship between Jake’s son Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and Payakan, a giant tulkun, which Silver described as essentially being about “a boy and his whale”.
Throughout the film, Lo’ak’s connection with the giant sea creature is explored and, at one moment, the pair talk to one another, with Payakan speaking in subtitles via humpback whale-like noises.
Silver acknowleged that, if this moment had been done incorrectly, it “could be thought of as absurd or crazy” by the audience.
“There’s a certain buy-in that happens when all the characters believe something very deeply, then you’re being introduced to something that’s totally alien to you,” she told Variety.
“The Metkayina believe so deeply in their tulkun brothers and sisters that I think the audience kind of goes with it.”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Silver then stated: “But it is a high-wire act. If it doesn’t play, then the movie becomes silly.”
She praised “fearless” Cameron for “putting himself out there” with his “wonderful crazy” ideas.
Earlier this week, actor Stephen Lang cleared up fan frustration surrounding a scene viewers claimed “made no sense”, while audience members complained about a “giant” plot hole after watching the film.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments