Avatar: The Way of Water sees the return of Jake Sully and Neytiri, but they’re joined by a plethora of new Na'vi characters, some of whom are played by cast members from the first film. However, since many are only playing Na'vi there are many who want to know the appearance of some Avatar 2 characters in real life. James Cameron's return to the world of Pandora — picking up more than a decade after the events of Avatar — doesn’t solely center the characters from the original film. The next generation of characters thrive in the Avatar cast, and since it's an early role in many of their careers there's been a keen interest to find out their other projects.
There are also of course many legacy cast members in Avatar 2. The Avatar: The Way of Water cast includes several familiar faces, including Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, though she also portrays a brand-new character in the sequel. The new characters, of course, all have a connection with the original Avatar characters, and together they take the narrative to exciting places while building upon their interpersonal relationships throughout the film. Led by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, Avatar: The Way of Water has assembled quite an ensemble to play the Avatar 2 characters in real life.
Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
Jake Sully is formerly a human who chose to permanently become a member of the Na’vi after the events of Avatar. Jake led the Na’vi against the Resources Development Administration (RDA), which was destroying Pandora, ultimately driving them off the planet — at least for a while. Jake is also the mate of Neytiri, and the pair have four children together. As the main of the Avatar 2 characters in real life, Jake Sully is portrayed by Sam Worthington, who reprises his role from Avatar and is best known for his roles in Terminator Salvation and Clash of the Titans. He also has the action movie Transfusion in 2023.
Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri
Neytiri is a native of Pandora, and also in line to be the Omakitakaya Na’vi’s next spiritual leader. Neytiri is also Jake’s mate, the daughter of the Na’vi’s previous clan chief, and by Avatar: The Way Of Water, the mother of his children. One of the more popular of the Avatar 2 characters in real life, Neytiri is portrayed by Zoe Saldaña, who also reprises her motion-capture role from Avatar. Saldaña is best known for her roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Avengers: Endgame, 2009’s Star Trek, in which she played Uhura and the Netflix film The Adam Project.
Sigourney Weaver as Kiri
Kiri is Jake and Neytiri’s adopted teen daughter. While the identity of Kiri’s biological mother is known, the identity of her biological father is a mystery. A Cameron regular when it comes to the Avatar 2 characters in real life, Kiri is portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, who also reprises her original role from Avatar as Dr. Grace Augustine, an ally to the Na’vi. Weave is best known for her roles in the Alien franchise, Ghostbusters, the Pixar animation Finding Dory, the horror film The Cabin in the Woods, Galaxy Quest, the Marvel Netflix series The Defenders, and Call Jane.
Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch
Colonel Miles Quaritch was the leader of the RDA, but he died as a human in Avatar. The Way of the Water’s version of the character is an avatar clone instilled with the human Quaritch’s memories and tasked to seek revenge on Jake Sully. A returning actor among the Avatar 2 characters who look different in real life thanks to playing Na'Vi, Stephen Lang reprises the role of Quaritch from Avatar, but he is also known for portraying characters in Tombstone, the TV series Into the Badlands, Salem, the horror film Don’t Breathe and its sequels, the thriller The Girl on the Train, and Conan the Barbarian.
Cliff Curtis as Tonowari
Tonowari is the leader of the clan Metkayina, a reef people Jake and Neytiri’s family seek out for refuge. Tonowari is portrayed by Cliff Curtis, who is best known for his roles in Training Day, the sci-fi film Sunshine, The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, The Meg, the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Colombiana, in which he appeared in alongside co-star Zoe Saldaña.
Kate Winslet as Ronal
Ronal is a member of the Metkayina, a free diver, and the wife of Tonowari. Unlike Tonowari, however, Ronal is a bit more hesitant to welcome Jake, Neytiri, and their family. One of the most critically acclaimed of the Avatar 2 characters in real life, Ronal is portrayed by Kate Winslet, who is best known for her roles in James Cameron’s Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the Jane Austen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, and the holiday rom-com The Holiday. Winslet won an Oscar for her work with James Cameron in Titanic.
Jamie Flatters as Neteyam
Neteyam is Jake and Neytiri's oldest son and child. He follows in his father’s footsteps, and has good tactical skills. Neteyam is portrayed by Jamie Flatters, who is best known for the TV series The Forgotten Battle, and as Tedros in the Netflix film The School for Good and Evil.
Britain Dalton as Lo'ak
Lo’ak is Jake and Neytiri's third-youngest child after Kiri, and the second-oldest son. Lo’ak doesn’t think he’s good enough in the eyes of his parents, and sees himself as a disappointment. Lo’ak is portrayed by Britain Dalton, who is best known for the TV series Goliath. Brian Dalton's Lo'Ak will also be replacing Jake Sully as the narrator in Avatar 3.
Jack Champion as Spider
One of the most intriguing new characters introduced in Avatar 2 is Spider. He is the adopted human son of Jake and Neytiri with it eventually being revealed that he is actually the son of Quaritch who was left behind on Pandora because he was two young to make the space travel back to Earth. Spider adds an interesting element to the sequel, holding loyalty to his adopted family but unable to fully disown his birth father. Jack Champion recently appeared as part of the cast of Scream 6 as Ethan.
Bailey Bass as Tsireya "Reya"
Reya is a member of the Metkayina, and Tonowari and Ronal's daughter. She takes it upon herself to help Lo’ak and his siblings learn the way of the water. Reya is portrayed by Bailey Bass, who is best known for her roles in the hit AMC series Interview with the Vampire, and The Jenkins Family Christmas.
Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuktirey "Tuk"
Tuk is the youngest child of Jake and Neytiri. Trinity Jo-Li Bliss is best known for the TV series Best Foot Forward and The Garcias. The young actress starred in Avatar: The Way Of Water early in her career, and outside of acting she's also a singer-songwriter.
Filip Geljo as Aonung
Aonung is a member of the Metkayina clan, Tonowari and Ronal's son, and Reya’s brother in Avatar: The Way of Water. Aonung is portrayed by Filip Geljo, who is best known for starring in the TV series Odd Squad. Outside of Avatar 2, Filip Geljo starred in 2015 indie drama The Waiting Room.
CCH Pounder as Mo'at
Mo’at is Neytiri’s mother and the spiritual leader of the Omaticaya. A familiar face of the Avatar 2 characters in real life, CCH Pounder is best known for her roles in Godzilla: King of Monsters, Warehouse 13, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, and has voiced the DC character Amanda Waller in the video game Batman: Arkham Underworld and animated movie Batman: Assault on Arkham.
Matt Gerald as Lyle Wainfleet
Lyle Wainfleet was one of the human mercenaries working for the RDA. His human body died in the Assault of the Tree of Souls and ended up resurrected in an avatar as a Recombinant for Project Phoenix. He appeared in the first movie in his human form and returned to Avatar: The Way of Water in his avatar form. This member of the Avatar 2 characters in real life is Matt Gerald, and he has a huge action movie filmography in his past, including Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Ant-Man, and Rampage. Unfortunately for Matt Gerald, his part on the Avatar 2 cast is regularly misattributed to Vin Diesel.
Alicia Vela-Bailey as Zdinarsk
One of the female members of the Avatar 2 characters in real life is Alicia Vela-Bailey as Zdinarsk, one of the villains. She is a rare repeat actor in the franchise. In the first Avatar, she was a member of the Na'vi named Ikeyni. However, in Avatar: The Way of Water, she played a member of Project Phoenix, the team sent in to take over the planet. Her past film work is limited, but she did appear as an assistant stunt coordinator in Marvel's Luke Cage and was Gal Gadot's stunt double in Wonder Woman.
Kevin Dorman as Mansk
Kevin Dorman has done a lot of work in the Avatar franchise so far. In his main role as one of the Avatar 2 characters in real life, he played Mansk, a member of Project Phoenix and one of the bad guys. However, he did much more than that. Britain Dalton acted opposite Kevin Dorman, seated behind a screen covered with a piece of red tape where Payakon’s red eye would be, as the risky whale-like creature in Avatar: The Way of Water. He was also in the first movie as a tractor operator. Outside of this, Dorman has done a lot of videogame voice work in the Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, and Spider-Man franchises.
Avatar: The Way Of Water Supporting Cast
While not the main characters in the sequel, the supporting cast of Avatar 2 adds to the overall ensemble in some fun ways. These smaller roles are filled by some returning characters whose roles are not as substantial this time around as well as some notable new characters who are now part of the Avatar franchise.
- Joel David Moore as Norm: Joel David Moore first appeared as norm in the first Avatar movie. As one of the other participants in the Avatar program, he formed a relationship with Sully. He returns briefly in Avatar 2, seen in his Avatar form giving medical aid to Jake and Neytiri's children. Moore has appeared in movies like Dodgeball, Hatchet, and The Guest.
- Edie Falco as General Ardmore: With Colonel Quaritch technically dead in his human form following the events of the first movie, Edie Falco's General Ardmore steps in as the head of the military operations in the colonization of Pandora. Falco is best known for her Emmy-winning role as Carmela in The Sopranos. She recently appeared in Pete Davidson's sitcom Bupkis.
- Brendan Cowell as Scoresby: Brendan Cowell plays the secondary villain Scoresby in Avatar 2. He is the human captain of a marine hunting vessel and leads a team in hunting down the tulkun in order to kill them and extract the amrita. Cowell is an actor who has worked on countless shows including as Harrag in the seventh season of Game of Thrones.
- Jemaine Clement as Dr. Gavin: Jemaine Clement joins the sequel as Dr. Gavin who is part of Scoresby's team as a researcher of the marine life on Pandora. Unlike Scorseby who seems to take pleasure in hunting tulkun, Dr. Gavin participates in order to allow his research to continue. Clement is best known as forming the folk parody music duo of Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie which became its own HBO show. Clement has also starred in The BFG, Men in Black III and What We Do in the Shadows.
- Giovani Ribisi as Selfridge: Reprising his role from the first movie, Giovanni Ribisi returns as Selfridge in a quick cameo shown in a video recorded by Quaritch before his death in the first movie. It is unclear where Selfridge is during the events of Avatar 2. Ribisi is an accomplished actor with standout roles in movies like Saving Private Ryan, Gone in Sixty Seconds, and Ted. He has also had notable TV roles in Sneaky Pete, The Offer and Friends.