Kate Winslet broke a filming record during the production of Avatar 2, and her role should avoid an original movie problem. Releasing in 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar was revered for its visuals: masterfully capturing the Na’vi people and their world, Pandora. The film’s sequel has been in development for a considerable period, but Kate Winslet’s involvement surely reinvigorates some of the anticipation lost in a thirteen-year wait.
Avatar 2 clearly seeks to build on the technical ingenuity displayed in the production of the original movie, with its cast being required to perform a considerable number of their scenes underwater. While submerged, Winslet held her breath for over seven minutes, breaking a record set by Tom Cruise during filming for Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation. Winslet has worked with Cameron before, for 1997’s Titanic, and she may prove key to the second installment of his sci-fi epic.
Producer Jon Landau has spoken on the added emphasis on character roles in Avatar 2. In conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Landau said “We are putting much more detail, first and foremost, into the performances of the cast, but we're [also] putting much more detail and diversity into the world that we are creating.” It seems that, while the intricacies and details of Pandora will still be a primary focus for Avatar 2, the acting performances will be emphasized much more than in the original film. Winslet will portray Ronal, and an actor of her stature being cast is certainly a progressive step in ensuring that the characters’ roles are not overshadowed by the world which they inhabit. Beyond just setting records, it's clear that Winslet will play a major part in redefining the Avatar series' wider narrative and focus.
Landau’s comments specifically highlight the “detail” in performances, which will be illustrated by the technical aspect of underwater acting, but likely also through normative character portrayal. It is important that the film’s producers are aware of how the characters were somewhat sidelined in the original movie. Naturally, being released a considerable period after Avatar, the sci-fi sequel will utilize improvements in technology to amplify its visuals even more. But, with audiences already acquainted with the atmosphere of Pandora, it is important for Avatar 2 to improve the use of its characters in threading through its storyline.
Alongside the addition of Winslet to the cast, among Avatar 2’s returning cast is Sigourney Weaver. Weaver played Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar. Despite her character’s death in the film, it seems her role in the sequel won’t be limited to simply flashbacks, with Weaver pictured filming underwater scenes. It’s unclear exactly how Weaver’s significant involvement will be explained in Avatar 2: perhaps Dr. Augustine’s death will be retconned, or Weaver may simply portray a new character. Either way, the inclusion of such an acclaimed actor can only improve the quality of performances in the sequel and aid the focus on a more character-led plot.
The depth of Avatar’s characters was a notably limiting factor to an otherwise widely appreciated movie. However, with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldaña) family a key plot detail for Avatar 2, there is a perfect opportunity to produce an improved focus on characterization in the sequel. Kate Winslet’s performance is already record-breaking, and it could yet prove significant in avoiding the character problems of the original film.
