Actress Zoe Saldaña has been extremely busy filming multiple “Avatar” sequels for director Jim Cameron. The central performance capture took place on stages in California and the live-action portions shot in Wellington, New Zealand. The last leg of the production shot during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlighted New Zealand’s commitment to strict handling of the virus with various government policies, making it possible for the foreign team to shoot scenes for several sequels.
Saldaña is out promoting her latest action flick, “The Adam Project,” which is currently playing on Netflix and revealed during an interview with Kevin McCarthy TV (See below) that she saw 20 minutes of “Avatar 2” footage at the end of 2021, that moved her to tears.
“I can get choked up just talking about it. I was able to see just 20 minutes of the second installment..right before the year ended last year. I was speechless; I was moved to tears,” the actress said of her emotional reaction to the footage of the upcoming film.
After reading the final film’s script, Stephen Lang had also mentioned “weeping” which would give the impression Cameron is aiming to tug on the audience’s heartstrings.
“Avatar,” as you likely know by now, is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.
The new film will focus on the oceans of Pandora alongside a group of young characters that include both Na’vi and human children. We’ll also see the return of the military force of RDA, the evil corporate intergalactic colonizers, led by “Sopranos” actress Edie Falco as General Ardmore and will be outfitted with new sea vessels. Other newcomers to the franchise include Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, Jermaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Chloe Coleman, and more.
Saldaña is currently shooting “Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3” and is expected to return for Paramount’s “Star Trek 4,” which could shoot by the end of the year reportedly.
“Avatar 2” is still very much set to be released on December 16 and will go head-to-head with “Shazam! Fury of The Gods” after “Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom” bailed on that spot moving into 2023. The main question about the film is will it put the “Avatar is no longer culturally relevant” naysayers’ criticisms to rest or not.