Zoe Saldaña & Sam Worthington Recall Emotional 'Avatar' Family Reunion at Los Angeles Premiere: 'It's a Labor of Love'

It was a Pandora family reunion at the Los Angeles premiere of "Avatar: The Way of Water" on Monday night, although the film's key patriarch was unable to attend. Director James Cameron, who spent 13 years developing, filming and designing the sci-fi sequel after his debut 'Avatar' became the highest-grossing film in history, had to step down before the festivities; he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Nevertheless, it was an emotional evening for the cast and crew of the film, as they gathered to celebrate their arrival at the finish line after a long journey. Franchise leading man Sam Worthington reflected on the long process of creating "The Way of Water".

"We started working on it I think in 2015 when I saw some things for the first time and 2017 is when we started. It's been a gradual, continuous process, like a big journey," Sam Worthington told Variety's Angelique Jackson on the mat. "It's a labor of love rather than making a movie. That's how I feel."

Zoe Saldaña, who returns as Neytiri, the Na'vi warrior and wife of Jake Sully from Worthington, too, expressed his own gratitude for returning to the world of "Avatar," emphasizing his adoration for Cameron and the action heroines he helped cement with "The Terminator" and "Aliens." p>

"I started working with my idol very early in my career. If not not for Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley, those iconic 80s characters, where would I be?" said Saldana. “There are so many themes that will resonate with people, starting with the power of family...Family is not only the one you are born into, but it is also the one you choose or who you are. choose."

"The Way of Water" producer Jon Landau shone at the premiere, admiring the splashing blue carpet, installation of a major waterfall and Pandora decor around the event.

"I'm really proud of my crew. Jim and I might get accolades, but we stand on their shoulders. Seeing them recognized for their years of hard work makes me really proud," Landau explained. "What stands out are the tears... That's what Jim reacted to the most. Two weeks ago I screened the film for our main cast. When I saw them tearing up, I had to tear up.”

"It's like a family reunion," Landau continued. "It's not that we were disconnected. We just didn't see each other, but now we're all back together. We just went together."

"Avatar: The Way of the Water" debuts in theaters this Friday.

Comments