Avatar: The Way of Water is one of the biggest blockbusters from Hollywood in 2022. Not only does it reintroduce the iconic Avatar franchise created by director James Cameron after a 13-year hiatus, but this film also continues to deliver an incredibly immersive visual feast, with stunning imagery and meticulous craftsmanship down to the finest details.
As suggested by the film’s title, much of Avatar: The Way of Water revolves around water, showcasing battles on the ocean’s surface and even beneath the waves in expansive underwater environments. With a director renowned for his “realistic fantasy” approach like James Cameron, it is no surprise that such scenes are executed with a level of authenticity rarely seen in a film of this scale.
There have been numerous articles highlighting the hard work of the cast of Avatar: The Way of Water, especially regarding their extensive training to perform the underwater scenes. Notably, actress Kate Winslet even broke Tom Cruise’s record for holding breath underwater, managing an impressive 7 minutes and 47 seconds while still maintaining her character’s physical integrity.
However, achieving all this requires more than just a few key elements in realizing the underwater segments in Avatar: The Way of Water. This is because the Na’vi characters in the film still need to swim, fight, or interact with creatures in the vast underwater expanse. This means that there are still significant challenges to effectively transition between the two environments – underwater and above – while dealing with aquatic creatures like Ilu and Skimwing (tsurak).
At this point, the production team had to rely on the unique skill sets of the cast members. These included specialists from various fields, from parkour to stunt diving, and even professional athletes who have competed in the Olympics. They were ready to execute some of the most dangerous, complex, and even ‘risky’ stunts to bring the authentic film experience to Avatar: The Way of Water.
To gain a clearer understanding of the filming process for the underwater scenes in this blockbuster, check out the following video.
SOURCE: 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS, SCREENRANT
