Jack Championspent over four and a half years filmingAvatar: The Way of Waterwith directorJames Cameron. Champion, who plays the orphaned teen character Spider, says that the experience working with Cameron brought them close, especially since he was young when filming forTheWay of Waterbegan. Champion spoke toThe Hollywood Reporterabout his lengthy audition process, preparation for the role, and time spent on set.
Champion says about Cameron,
“He knows everything about every department, from acting to lighting to stunts to cinematography. A lot of the time, he’d hold the camera himself, do his camera work. He’s just a cinematic genius. After so many years, he has become like a father figure to me.”
When Champion auditioned for the film, he was only 12 years old, and he watchedAvatarevery day leading up to the audition to prepare. Champion said that while he was excited about the role, he didn’t want to get his hopes up at any point in the process because, as an actor, nothing is ever for sure. However, once he booked the role, the whole experience of shooting and post-production spanned his teenage years.
Now thatAvatar: The Way of Waterhas been released nationwide, Champion, 18, can focus on his upcoming projects. Champions docket includesScream 6, a thriller calledRetributionwhich co-stars Liam Neeson (The Ice Road), and a drama calledFreaky Tales.
Related:Sigourney Weaver Says Surprising Avatar: The Way of Water Return Has Been a Long Time Coming
Avatar is Jack Champion’s Big Break
Avatarisn’t Jack Champion’s first time on the big screen, but it is, objectively,his big break. Before landing the role of the human teenager on Pandora, Champion had a minor role inAvengers: Endgame, in which he played a bicycle-riding teen.
Champion also had a lead role in 2018’sThe Night Sitter,where he played one of the kids getting babysat in a comedy horror Christmas film. InThe Night Sitter,Champion played a disturbed teenager named Kevin, who recently lost his mother. Now that Champion is exiting his teen years, he may soon be moving on to different types of roles that extend beyond orphaned teens. The actor has not yet made a move to Hollywood, preferring, for now, to stay in Virginia since he says virtual auditions allow him to do so. Champion’s next film isScream 6,which comes to theaters in March.
“I watched theScreammovies in October of 2021, and immediately I became a huge fan of horror and slashers. Last Halloween, I dressed as Ghostface, and then, literally in less than a year, I would be cast in the next movie.”
Avatar: The Way of Wateris available in theaters today, Dec. 16.
