For all the visual spectacle on display in James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water trailer, there's no escaping that star Sigourney Weaver's voice sounds incredibly weird. Following the events of the first movie, in which Sigourney Weaver's Dr. Grace Augustine lost her life, many found it somewhat surprising that Weaver was returning for the long-awaited sequel. The fact that her voice sounds as disconcertingly strange as it does only adds to speculation around the precise nature of her character as well as why Cameron was so determined that she return at all.
The sense of strangeness largely stems from the discrepancy between Weaver's age and that of her Avatar 2 character, Kiri. Although the screen veteran is one of science fiction's most established performers, at 73 years of age she is far removed from the youthful Kiri – the daughter of central Avatar pair Jake and Neytiri. Turning Weaver into a Na'vi teenager was always going to be a challenge, but hearing that child speak with a septuagenarian intonation is – amongst the sight of Pandora's breathtaking underwater wildlife – surprising, to say the least. And yet, despite the unusual casting choice, there are reasons why the approach could pay dividends.
Why Sigourney Weaver Plays A Child In Avatar 2
There are several explanations for why, despite the apparent awkwardness, Sigourney Weaver is returning as a child in Avatar 2. Aside from her obvious credentials as a performer, one reason may be the nature of the character Kiri herself. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Weaver explained that she and director James Cameron had wanted to bring out the central awkwardness of the character, providing a faithful rendition of what it's like to be a teenager – regardless of species. As she explained, "I got together with the designers or the drawers and just brought some awkwardness. That’s what he ended up calling it now, 'awkward Kiri,' as opposed to 'perfect Kiri.' For better or worse, my awkward, self-conscious teenager was able to flow right into Kiri, and I had to work in a completely different way, which is kind of letting it flow into me..." Giving the character an adult voice therefore actually adds to the sense of awkwardness that Cameron and Weaver wanted to create, making what may seem like a clash work to the movie's advantage.
Another aspect of the casting is, perhaps surprisingly, Weaver's innate suitability for the part. In the same Vanity Fair interview, the actor – best known for her performances as Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise – revealed, "I don’t know that any of us is very far removed from our adolescent moment, because it certainly stands out in bold relief for a lot of people. I’m not sure how far I’ve gotten away from my teenager, but Jim said to me, 'You can do this. You’re so immature. This is about how old you are anyway.'" Weaver's voice may sound slightly jarring in the trailer, but the truth is that it is only part of what could still be a compelling performance.
Avatar 2 Can Explain Kiri's Voice In Canon
Ordinarily, explaining how a 73-year-old can portray a teenager would require jumping through some serious cognitive hoops. However, the Avatar universe actually has an on-hand explanation for Kiri's unusual voice. In the original movie, Jake Sully brought Grace Augustine to the central Tree of Souls to try and transfer her essence to her avatar body. While she seemed to die before the process could be completed, it's possible that some part of her consciousness was retained and transferred to Kiri. Though the precise details of such a transfer are unclear, the fact that Weaver is appearing again strongly implies a link between the two characters. This connection to the original Grace could go a long way toward explaining Kiri's strange voice in Avatar: The Way of Water, avoiding potentially awkward questions in the process.
