It’s been thirteen years since James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) took viewers by storm. With innovations in cinematic technology, the team helped define what the future of cinematic blockbusters would be. With a story detailing the ups and downs of humanity, it took an epic cast to pull together this opening salvo for an epic franchise.
Here, we’ll review the cast featured in the sequel to this epic film, Avatar: The Way of the Water (2022). We’ll cover the role they play and the notable roles they’ve played in the past. These can be roles they are well known for or a role that can help them gain experience for the next step in their career.
6/6 Stephane Lang
Sony Pictures release
Stephen Lang has a long resume dating back to 1985. In this film, he will play a strong and violent character with whom he has a lot of experience, as he is known for his work as Norman Nordstrom or “The Blind Man” in the Don’t Breathe duology. Stephen Lang has also acted in video games, having played Elias Walker in Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Stephen Lang is no stranger to the Avatar franchise, having played the role of Colonel Miles Quaritch, playing a strong and antagonistic force against the native Na’vi. This role turned out to be so impressive that Stephen Lang received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. He’s set to reprise that role, despite the character’s death in the first film.
5/6 Curtis Cliff
AMC Networks
Cliff Curtis has been working in Hollywood since the early 90s. He made appearances in films such as The Last Airbender (2010), where he would play the role of Fire Lord Ozai. While this movie would get a lot of reviews, Cliff Curtis appeared in some well-received entries, like when he played Jonah Hobbs in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and Billy Freeman in Doctor Sleep. One of his most well-known roles, however, would come on television in Fear the Walking Dead.
Cliff Curtis will take on one of the most important roles in this film, as he will be Tonowari, the leader of the new clan of Pandorans, known for his excellent skills in the water. Cliff Curtis has a lot of time in the water, as he also starred as James “Mac” Mackreides in The Meg (2019).
4/6Kate Winslet
Paramount Pictures
Kate Winslet will move on to another major franchise. The star-studded actress was part of the Divergent series, taking on the antagonistic role of Jeanine Matthews. She was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997).
Kate Winslet will take on the role of Metkayina member Ronal. Kate Winslet had made first news of her role. With many of her scenes involving being deep underwater, Winslet set a record when she held her breath for over seven minutes while filming. It has been noted that his character is one of the best free divers in the Metkayina clan.
3/6 Sigourney Weaver
20th century fox
Sigourney Weaver enjoyed a resurgence in her career after launching it in 1979 with the first Alien movie. After starring in one of sci-fi horror’s biggest franchises as lead heroine Ellen Ripley, Weaver went on to star in several major franchise projects, including The Defenders (playing antagonist Alexandra Reid ) and numerous appearances in the Ghostbusters films (where she would play the role of assistant, Dana Barrett.)
Sigourney Weaver had starred in the first Avatar movie as Dr. Grace Augstine, a role in which she would win the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. While Dr. Grace Augustine would be a casualty in the epic final battle, Sigourney Weaver is set to return to the franchise as a new character. She will play Kiri, a Na’vi teenager supported by Jake and Neytiri.
2/6 Zoe Saldana
Walt Disney Studios movies
The first Avatar movie was a rocket ship for Zoe Saldana’s career, with the actress taking on more impressive work after her stellar performance in the film. In the thirteen years since the first film, Saldana has taken on roles such as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and is set to star in the upcoming Paramount Plus series Lioness (2023).
Zoe will reprise her role as Neytiri, although between the films Neytiri has become the new spiritual leader of the Na’vi. After the events of the first film, Neytiri learns to be a leader of his tribe and now fully trusts Jake Sully as his partner. By her side, Neytiri is poised to protect her people as the audience begins to see what the rest of Pandora has to offer.
1/6 Sam Worthington
20th century workshops
Sam Worthington has had experience playing a serious action hero character, though perhaps more people know him from his work in video games than his work on the big screen. Playing iconic war hero Alex Mason in the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise, Worthington had the honors of leading a popular game franchise to record sales. He also played Captain Glover in the war movie Hacksaw Ridge (2016).
Returning to the franchise, Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a paraplegic veteran of the US Marine who takes the place of his twin brother in the “avatar” program of the RDA (Resources Development Administration). Jake initially acted as a bodyguard but, over time, he grew closer to the Na’Vi and sided with them in the coming war. With threats new and old on the horizon, Jake must prove himself a capable leader as he prepares his people for survival.