20th Century Studios has released a new trailer for “Avatar: The Way of Water” just weeks ahead of the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel’s Dec. 16 release date.
The second installment of the franchise sees the return of Stephen Lang’s villainous character Colonel Quaritch – who seemingly revives through a Na’vi avatar form – once again opposite Pandora’s Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and her partner Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). .
Set over a decade after the original film, which took place in 2154, the newly released trailer shows Jake and Neytiri getting cozy as a family. Viewers get a deeper look at the couple’s Na’vi children: Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Brittany Dalton), Tuktirey (Trinity Bliss) and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver, returning to the franchise in a new role).
“The story is about family, about our families trying to stay together [and] the lengths we all go to to protect each other and to protect the place where we live,” Weaver told Variety at a screening of her film “The Good House.” “It relies heavily on [James Cameron’s] family and his joy in the family. and also, how vulnerable you are when you have children.”
Newcomers to the franchise include Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco and Jemaine Clement.
The trailer is not short of visually stunning ocean shots, which double to showcase the impressive breath-holding skills of the film’s cast, who trained with experts to be able to shoot extended scenes underwater without coming up for air. In an interview earlier this year, Saldaña revealed that her personal record for holding her breath underwater was five minutes.
Just like 2009’s “Avatar,” Cameron is writing, producing and editing “Avatar: The Way of Water,” in addition to directing. Jon Landau and Peter M. Tobyansen are producing. The story was co-written by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno.
Watch the official trailer below.
