The last time Kate Winslet teamed up with James Cameron to make a small film about a very large boat, they made movie history. Now they’re about to change the game all over again with a suitably aquatic comeback – Winslet is once again working with the director on the long-awaited sequel, Avatar: The Way Of Water. Their reunion is titanic news in many ways — but for all the similarities to their last collaboration (long production, lots of water, a ridiculously epic scale), Winslet plays a very different character here than Rose in Love. As seen on the cover of our world exclusive new installment of Avatar: The Way Of Water, we can exclusively reveal that Winslet’s character is Na’vi warrior Ronal (pronounced “Ro-nail”). Along with Cliff Curtis’ Tonowari, Ronal leads the Metkayina tribe who dwell in the depths of Pandora’s vast oceans – and will play an important role in the adventure to come.
“She’s fiercely loyal and a fearless leader,” Winslet tells Empire of her big blue alien, teasing a female action heroine in a similar mold to Sarah Connor, Ripley, and Avatar’s own Neytiri. “She is strong. A fighter. Even in the face of great danger and with an unborn baby on board, she joins her people and fights for what matters most to her. Her family and her home.” If Sam Worthington’s Jake and Zoe Saldañas Neytiri are driven from their homes and flee to the water world of the Metkayina, expect friction – the drama and conflicts that often haunt the Sully clan mean they won’t necessarily be welcomed with open arms…
For Winslet, working with Cameron again was a significant event – although their momentum has shifted somewhat in the years since they’ve filmed Titanic and smashed box office records around the world. “Jim and I are both completely different people now than we were 26 years ago,” she says. “He’s calmer and I’m definitely more hyper now!” One thing’s for sure though – Winslet was at one with the water this time, using her now-legendary freediving skills for the underwater shoot. How long did she stay underwater on a single breath? “Seven minutes and 14 seconds, baby!” She says, adding that “the most amazing thing for me as a middle-aged woman was learning something not just new, but superhuman.” Get ready to return to the heart of the ocean.
Empire’s Avatar: The Way Of Water arrives Thursday, July 7th with unprecedented access to the film and its cast and crew – en route to Cameron’s Lightstorm HQ and chats with the director himself and producer Jon Landau , stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis and many more. Plus, it’s packed with never-before-seen images that unlock the world of Pandora like never before. Pre-order a copy online here – and come back to empireonline.com for another big character reveal from The Way Of Water tomorrow…
Avatar: The Way Of Water hits UK cinemas on December 16th.