Sigourney Weaver Explains How Avatar Handled 'Legitimate Concern' Over Kiss with Teen Co-Star

In `Avatar: Fire and Ash`, a romantic scene between two teenage characters is sparking a real-world conversation. Actress `Sigourney Weaver`, 76, is addressing the "legitimate concern" surrounding a kiss between her character and that of `Jack Champion`, who was just 14 or 15 during filming. Weaver says the production team had to be "very delicate" to get it right.

A Separated Kiss

The film sees Weaver's teenage Na'vi-hybrid, Kiri, share a kiss with Spider, a human teen played by Champion (now 21). Given the significant age gap between the actors, the logistics of the scene required careful planning.

"Obviously, I wasn't going to kiss Jack," `Weaver` told The Hollywood Reporter, clarifying how they navigated the moment. She explained that she and director `James Cameron` had Champion pick an age-appropriate stand-in for her to kiss. "Then I imagine when I wasn't there, they picked someone appropriate for Jack," she added. The scene was filmed with each actor performing their part separately with a stand-in.

Chemistry Beyond the Age Gap

Weaver felt this solution successfully addressed the ethical considerations. "I’m glad the scene survived, because when I saw it, I believed it," she said. "It’s so genuine between the two of them, and any concern about Jack’s real age and my real age, I think there’s no room for it there."

Champion echoed the sentiment in a previous interview with Entertainment Weekly, calling the experience "unique" but "easy" thanks to Weaver's talent. "Since `Sigourney` is `Sigourney`, she's so good at acting... I just reacted off her," he said. He recalled that their chemistry was instant, right from the first screen test where they improvised together. "Since the very beginning, `Sigourney` and I have been so locked in imaginatively that I've always been able see `Sigourney`, then see Kiri."