Kate Winslet, one of the stars of Avatar 2, has explained what was going on in that bizarre underwater set photo.
Anyone who has been following the production of Avatar 2 knows that director James Cameron is going all-in on the underwater sequences, seeking to push the boundaries of what is possible.
A new set photo has shown Kate Winslet filming one of these underwater scenes that apparently required her to hold her breath for seven minutes!
What was actually happening? Well, speaking to Collider, the actress said the shot was part of a ceremony her character takes part in.
“I was walking on walking on the bottom of the tank. That’s a big ceremonial sequence with those huge heavy wings. That was quite scary. The thing is, when you can hold your breath for seven minutes, you become unafraid. Actually, strangely, I was able to rely on my own ability to hold my breath for that long. Somehow I was not afraid, at all.”
Describing what it took to make such a scene possible, the actress said: “There’s so much safety underwater. There are two safety divers on every performer. There are two safety divers on every underwater camera. There were so many people in that tank. I probably felt safer down there than I did on dry land. I found the whole thing incredibly calming.
“There was something very meditative to me, and I don’t meditate. I can’t switch my brain off. I’m too busy. I love doing yoga, but I can only do it for about 25 minutes, and then I’m making lists. I get bored and I have to stop. But somehow, learning how to [do a] breath hold was one of the most calming things I’ve ever done because you have to slow your body down. You actually have to lower your heart rate to be able to oxygenate your body and subsequently hold your breath for that long. So, I had no choice but to stop fucking moving, which is not normal for me.”
SEE ALSO: Sigourney Weaver had to hold her breath for 6 minutes for Avatar 2 underwater filming
Let’s hope all this hard work and immense safety precautions pay off with a film that can live up to the massive success of the first Avatar. Unfortunately, we still have a couple of years to wait before we get to see it.
Avatar 2 sees Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Matt Gerald, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver all reprising their roles from the 2009 blockbuster, while new additions to the cast include Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Filip Geljo, Jamie Flatters, Bailey Bass, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Duane Evans Jr., Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Keston John and CJ Jones.
Avatar 2 is set for release in December 2022, followed by Avatar 3 in 2024, Avatar 4 in 2026 and Avatar 5 in 2028.
