by People were sceptical of James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Of course, they were sceptical of “Titanic” as well. Both films were hugely successful. “Avatar” was a technological marvel from one of our most exacting filmmakers, but it paid off in terms of Cameron’s vision. Let’s go to Pandora for some facts about “Avatar” you might not know.
Cameron changed his mind
“Big Jim” is always ambitious, and he planned to make “Avatar” with computer-generated actors in the 1990s. He intended to have six main characters who “appear to be real but do not exist in the physical world,” in his words. However, when the time came, Cameron felt the technology was inadequate. He put “Avatar” on hold so that the technology could catch up with his vision.
Cameron chose “Avatar” over another project he was working on
The director had several ideas running through his head. Cameron had two projects to choose from, and he chose “Avatar.” What about the other project? That’s “Alita: Battle Angel.”
A whole language was created
Cameron put a lot of effort into creating the world of Pandora, right down to the Na’vi language. The Na’vi language was developed primarily by Dr. Paul Frommer, a linguist at USC. He came up with around 1,000 words, while Cameron added about 30 of his own.
Cameron had a casting director in mind for Jake Sully
Cameron wanted Matt Damon to play Sully, the film’s human protagonist. He even offered Damon 10% of the movie’s profits. Damon, however, declined due to his commitments to the “Bourne” franchise.
For Sam Worthington, it was a watershed moment
When he auditioned for the role of Sully in Avatar, Worthington had not appeared in any notable films. Cameron, on the other hand, was drawn to it. Because Worthington was an unknown quantity, the director said he gave his character “a quality that is truly real.” This was a watershed moment for Worthington, who was living in his car at the time of his audition.
Cameron and an actor were almost reunited
Cameron considered Michael Biehn for the role of Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar. Biehn had previously appeared in “Aliens” and “The Terminator.” The actor read the script and was involved in the process early on, but he did not get the part.
An actor was given the opportunity to work with Cameron
Stephen Lang tried out for “Aliens” but did not get the part. He did, however, leave an impression on Cameron. Lang was remembered by the director, and he was cast as Colonel Quaritch.
