James Cameron admitted he cast Oona Chaplin in Avatar 3 without knowing her from Game of Thrones

The director of Avatar 3: Fire and Ash discussed his approach to casting, his attitude toward actors, and his skepticism about the fascination with AI in cinema.)

James Cameron shared unexpected details about the work on the third installment of Avatar. According to the filmmaker, when he approved Oona Chaplin for the role of Varang in 2016, he did not know her as an actress and had not watched the series Game of Thrones, which brought her widespread fame.

Casting Without Considering Popular Series

Cameron admitted that the casting decision was made solely based on the actress's professional qualities, not her recognition.

"I haven't watched Game of Thrones. But she understood the character so deeply. Oona is a very warm, soulful, genuine person, almost the complete opposite of Varang. But isn't it interesting to play your opposite and discover that you're capable of it?" the director noted.

According to him, it was precisely this internal contradiction between the actress's personality and the character's image that he found particularly valuable from an artistic standpoint.

Focus on the Actor, Not Technology

In his talk, Cameron also addressed the rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence into the film industry. He emphasized that he consciously distances himself from such tools in the process of making his films.

The director stressed that it is fundamentally important for him to keep the focus on the actor and artist, rather than replacing the creative process with technological solutions. In his view, cinema should remain a space for genuine human interaction.

Critique of the Fascination with AI Among Young Directors

Cameron cited as an example a recent masterclass he conducted for aspiring directors in New Zealand. What struck him about the seven presented projects was not so much their visual development but the lack of attention to the cast.

"Everyone showed storyboards, music, script concepts, character designs. But not a single presentation mentioned actors. I asked, 'Do you even have actors?' And I told them, 'You all need to go study acting.' I think every director should spend some time acting," Cameron shared.

In his opinion, an excessive fascination with technology, including AI, is gradually eroding the understanding of cinema's actor-centric nature.

Success of Avatar 3 at the Box Office

Against the backdrop of these reflections, Cameron also noted the film's commercial success. The movie Avatar 3: Fire and Ash managed to earn around $500 million in just a few days after its release, confirming the audience's sustained interest in the franchise.

Thus, the director once again emphasizes that even in an era of rapid technological progress, the actor and the living human story remain the key elements of great cinema for him.