James Cameron: "Avatar: The Way of Fire is the Most Emotional Work in the Series, AI Was Not Used Even for a Second"

Director James Cameron revealed his clear stance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) along with behind-the-scenes production details of the third installment of the 〈Avatar〉 series, 〈Avatar: The Way of Fire〉.

⬦ "It Will Be the Most Emotional Series"... The Trials of the Sully Family Who Lost Their Son

In a video press conference held on the 12th ahead of the release of 〈Avatar: The Way of Fire〉, Cameron introduced the new work by saying, "〈Avatar: The Way of Fire〉 is a film that invites you into an original world while also telling a human story about the heart."

This film combines fantastic imagery with humanism, and Cameron explained, "Technological advancements have evolved to the point where they can realize all the images in my head or the scenes I wrote in the script at a high level," adding, "The world of Pandora is so vast, deep, and delicate that it has become a canvas where any story can be told."

He continued, "Among the various stories, I chose the theme of family," stating, "As a father of five children and having spent my childhood in a large family, I wanted to bring the theme of family to the planet Pandora."

〈Avatar: The Way of Fire〉 continues the story of the Sully family, who faced the death of their eldest son, Neteyam, in the previous film, 〈Avatar: The Way of Water〉. The Sully family endures the loss and pain of Neteyam's death while also facing the dual challenge of the new threat from the "Ash Clan."

Cameron expressed, "I wanted to show how the Sully family navigates the shock and sorrow of losing Neteyam," and added, "The story deals with a family facing internal conflicts alongside physical confrontations with external enemies."

In particular, he emphasized, "Many people have given feedback that this work is the most emotional in the series so far," stating, "That is exactly what the production team aimed for."

⬦ New Threat 'Ash Clan'... Inspired by Volcanic Ash-Covered Papua New Guinea

In this work, the Sully family encounters the "Ash Clan," a group led by a female leader named "Barang" who practices a politics of fear. Originally a tribe living normally in the forest, they chose plunder as a new way of survival after losing their home to flames.

Cameron explained the background of the character setting, saying, "The 'Ash Clan' is a tribe born from hatred, violence, chaos, and the results of trauma," and added, "I imagined a tribe that manifested their helplessness and pain from the destruction of their homeland into aggressive characteristics."

The image of the 'Ash Clan' was born from Cameron's experience visiting Papua New Guinea with the National Geographic team in 2012, where he witnessed a village covered in volcanic ash.

He recalled, "The village devastated by a volcanic eruption and buried under ash left a very intense image," and reflected, "I imagined what it would have looked like if the forest tribe had stayed and lived without leaving their destroyed home."

This work features various cultures of the Na'vi, including the 'Wind Traders Clan' soaring through the skies, which were not seen in previous series.

Cameron stated, "I wanted to give the feeling that there is something vast and long-lasting in the world of Pandora," and added, "Our goal is to make the audience feel as if they are slightly entering the middle of that enormous thing and catching a glimpse of a moment."

⬦ "AI Cannot Replace Actors"... The Master Draws a Firm Line

He also clearly stated his views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in film production.

Cameron asserted, "What is clear is that AI cannot replace actors," emphasizing firmly, "Not even a second of AI was used in any of the films in the 〈Avatar〉 series."

He explained that while AI-generated human images can give a somewhat 'human-like' feel, they cannot achieve the delicacy of unique characters interpreted and portrayed by real actors.

Cameron stated, "The reason the visuals of the 〈Avatar〉 series are fantastic yet very realistic is that they are based on the actual performances of the actors," and added, "I believe that specific and delicate expressions and details can never be replaced by AI."

However, he left open the possibility of limited use, stating, "In a situation where VFX (visual effects) costs are rising and box office revenues are falling, AI can be used as a tool for cost reduction," and mentioned that using AI assistants in the special effects process could be helpful.

The movie 〈Avatar: The Way of Fire〉 is set to be released in Korea on the 17th.