Sigourney Weaver Pitches Anya Taylor-Joy For Avatar Franchise After Teaming On Upcoming Action-Horror Movie: “I Hope Jim Sees”

Sigourney Weaver has voiced her hopes that James Cameron would consider Anya Taylor-Joy for a role in the Avatar franchise. The two star in the upcoming sci-fi action-horror film The Gorge, which follows two operatives who are appointed to posts in guard towers on opposite sides of a vast gorge, protecting the world from a mysterious evil within. The Avatar franchise, meanwhile, follows the conflict between the indigenous Na’vi led by Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and the humans from the RDA, a megacorp that arrived at Pandora to colonize and pillage.

During an interview with GamesRadar+, Weaver expressed that she hopes James Cameron will take notice of her co-star’s performance. She pointed out that Taylor-Joy’s character, Drasa, shares qualities with past heroines from Cameron’s films, particularly Neytiri from Avatar: The Way of Water. Praising Taylor-Joy’s versatility, Weaver recalled being impressed by her early performances and believes there is little the actress cannot do. Check out her comments below:

I hope Jim sees The Gorge because I think he’ll appreciate the character of Drasa a lot. You know, he’s been so ahead of his time creating these amazing characters like Neytiri. I think Drasa is very much in that tradition. I’ve admired her work since I saw her in The Witch and then in Queen’s Gambit. I think there’s really nothing she can’t do.

What This Means For Anya Taylor-Joy & The Avatar Franchise

It’s Very Possible Cameron Could Take Weaver’s Suggestion for Avatar

Weaver’s comments position Taylor-Joy as a potential fit for Cameron’s expansive Avatar universe, which is set to continue through Avatar: Fire and Ash and the untitled fourth and fifth installments. Cameron has long prioritized casting actors who can handle physically demanding roles, as seen with Saldaña’s motion-capture performance as Neytiri and Kate Winslet’s extensive freediving training for Avatar: The Way of Water. Taylor-Joy has demonstrated similar skills, undergoing rigorous stunt training for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

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Moreover, Cameron’s films are known for characters with strong, independent narratives, from Ellen Ripley in Aliens to Dr. Grace Augustine in the first installment of Avatar, both portrayed by Weaver. Weaver’s comparison between Drasa and Neytiri suggests Taylor-Joy’s character in The Gorge shares qualities Cameron values in his leads. If he were to consider Taylor-Joy for an upcoming role in the franchise, she would likely undergo the motion-capture process. The Avatar franchise remains a cornerstone of modern sci-fi, having already amassed over $5.2 billion just at the box office.

Our Take On Weaver’s Endorsement Of Taylor-Joy

She Has What it Takes To Be A Part Of Avatar

Anya Taylor-Joy's Drasa looking intensely through her sniper rifle in The Gorge

Weaver’s endorsement of Anya Taylor-Joy carries weight, given her own contributions to science fiction cinema. Taylor-Joy has consistently proven her ability to take on physically and emotionally demanding roles, making her a strong candidate for a future Avatar sequel. Whether Cameron will act on Weaver’s suggestion is to be determined, but given Taylor-Joy’s growing status in Hollywood, it wouldn’t be surprising if she ends up in a major franchise like Avatar after The Gorge.

Source: GamesRadar+