Speaking with THR, Avatar: The Way of Water star Jack Champion discussed why his character, Spider, made that controversial decision near the end of the film.
Earlier in the film, viewers learn that Spider is the son of the original Colonel Miles Quaritch that died at the climax of the first film. At the end of the Avatar sequel, Spider saves the copy of Quaritch from drowning after the villain was defeated by Jake Sully.
When asked about Spider’s choice, Champion revealed Spider’s thought process.
“Well, I think it’s because he spent months with Quaritch at that point. So they built up this father-son relationship,” Champion stated. “And Quaritch just saved his life from Neytiri [Zoe Saldaña]. So at that moment, he thought, ‘I’m not going to join him. I’m sure as hell not going to do that, but I can’t just let him die. That’s just as good as murdering him.’ So it’s a whole bag of things.”
Avatar: The Way of Water is directed and co-written by James Cameron. It features the return of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald, and Sigourney Weaver. Additional cast members include Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Jemaine Clement, and Oona Chaplin, alongside a slate of young actors.
“Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure,” says the official synopsis.
Three additional films are planned, with Avatar 3 tentatively scheduled for December 20, 2024, Avatar 4 set for December 18, 2026, and Avatar 5 on December 22, 2028.