Sigourney Weaver Addresses Controversy Over Kissing Scene with Teen ‘Avatar’ Co-Star

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Sigourney Weaver has responded to questions about a romantic scene between her character, Kiri, and Jack Champion’s character, Spider, in the new Avatar: Fire and Ash movie.

The scene featuring a kiss between the actors sparked controversy due to the significant age difference – Weaver is 76 years old, and the other actor was between 14 and 16 years old during the movie’s production.

Sigourney Weaver recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the scene where her character says, “You’re perfect just as you are,” required careful handling due to the inclusion of a kiss. She clarified that she didn’t actually kiss the young actor playing Jack, who was between 14 and 15 years old, and that precautions were taken to ensure the scene was filmed appropriately.

Sigourney Weaver originally played scientist Grace Augustine in the first Avatar movie. She returned for the sequels as Kiri, a teenage Na’vi-Avatar hybrid created from Grace’s avatar, and who is raised by Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). In the movie ‘Fire and Ash,’ Kiri and Spider develop a close relationship that includes a romantic moment.

To ensure the kissing scene was handled respectfully, Sigourney Weaver and director James Cameron worked with actor Bill Paxton to find someone he felt comfortable kissing. They also used body doubles who were closer in age during the actual filming. “We were very aware of and concerned about making sure everything was appropriate,” Weaver explained.

I’m happy that scene made it into the final cut because it felt completely believable when I watched it. The connection between the two actors was so authentic that any worries about their actual ages seemed irrelevant.

Weaver explained that this was the only time she and Champion didn’t film together. She described their scenes together as a welcome break, saying it felt like a ‘little vacation’ because they had so much fun and energy. She particularly enjoyed the contrast between their characters, finding their differences to be a perfect dynamic. Being around him lifted her spirits, and she cherished their playful interactions.

Champion discussed the experience with Entertainment Weekly, explaining that while people ask if it’s challenging to work with Sigourney Weaver, her skill as an actress makes it easier. They filmed in a gray performance-capture environment, relying heavily on their imaginations to bring the scenes to life.

He explained that he and Sigourney Weaver connected immediately. “We probably only had one scene that was actually written,” he said, “but then we spent the next half hour just improvising and having fun with it, really letting our imaginations run wild.”

Detailed preparation and the use of doubles allowed the scene to be filmed safely and still look realistic.

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2025-12-23 16:21