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Avatar 3 adds Harry Potter star David Thewlis to its cast

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

From Digital Spy

Avatar's sequel films have added a renowned Harry Potter actor to their cast in the form of David Thewlis.

Thewlis, who played werewolf Remus Lupin in the Potter films, is lined up to play a Na'vi and he's declared that he can't wait to see what he ends up looking like in the blockbuster franchise.

While it was previously reported that he had signed up for Avatar 2, Thewlis has since confirmed in a separate interview that he's actually on board for Avatar 3 – and potentially 4 and 5 too.

"I've got no idea what my scenes will be like because there are about 16 guys in the room with video cameras but they're just shooting reference shots for Jim [Cameron] to look at later," he told Total Film.

Photo credit: Eamonn M McCormack - Getty Images
Photo credit: Eamonn M McCormack - Getty Images

Related: Avatar 2 first-look photo sees Kate Winslet on set

"I am a Na'vi, I'm a blue thing in it – which I didn't quite understand when I went to meet [Jim]. I was quite surprised when I got offered that. I'm fascinated to see how I'm going to look, because they sort of make them look a bit like oneself. It's fantastic!"

The actor, who has also had roles in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, War Horse and Wonder Woman, said that none of his previous experience could fully prepare him for working in such a special-effects heavy environment.

"For the first time, I felt like a total newcomer, like it was my first job," he said. "I was on set having been working for 35 years on film sets and I was like, 'So what do we do? What's that doing here? Why is he doing that? Do we do it now?'

"I felt very naïve. And of course, I was, because none of the rules applied from everything I've learned."

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Related: James Cameron says Avatar 2 shouldn't be delayed

Clearing up the initial confusion about which film he'd be appearing in, Thewlis later told Collider: "Nothing could be more different than Avatar. It completely doesn't resemble anything that I've ever done.

"I should be clear, by the way... I'm not in Avatar 2. I'm going to be in Avatar 3, which was shot at the same time as Avatar 2, and the plan is that I will be in Avatar 4 and 5, as well. I just wanted to clear that up."

Avatar 2's producer Jon Landau recently teased a few details about the movie's plot as it returns to production after an enforced break in filming due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is the story of the Sully family and what one does to keep their family together," he said, explaining that the family will "go out and explore the different regions of Pandora, including spending quite a bit of time on the water, around the water, in the water."

Avatar 2 will also star Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet and Giovanni Ribisi.

Avatar is now available to watch on services including Disney+ and Amazon Prime. Avatar 2 will be released on December 17, 2021 in US and UK cinemas, with Avatar 3, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 expected to follow in December 2023, December 2025 and December 2027 respectively.


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