Kate Winslet, who plays Neytiri in Avatar: The Way of Water, explains why her character initially mistrusts Jake and Neytiri. Although Winslet only filmed for one month of the project’s extended shoot, her character Ronal will play a significant role in the overall plot of the movie. When the humans return to colonize Pandora, Jake and Neytiri turn to Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), the head of the reef tribe known as the Metkayina, for assistance. Tonowari is a free diver, and Ronal is his wife. But compared to her husband, Ronal has much less faith in the couple.
In advance of the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, Winslet recently spoke with Collider. They talked about Ronal and her motives during the conversation. Winslet delves deeply into the persona, elaborating on why she might not be as eager as her husband to assist Jake and Neytiri. The actor claims that Ronal is “absolutely the matriarch” and that she places the safety of her family and tribe first. She perceives outsiders as unknowable entities that could pose a threat. Below is a complete quote from Winslet:
“I think what I felt was very important to convey is the sense that Ronal is absolutely the matriarch. She is the leader of her clan, and I think she will stop at nothing to protect that and to protect what they have created. They really care for and look after not just their family, but that entire village, that entire community, the Metkayina clan.
“So the idea that anything from the outside could pose any sort of threat is something that I think, as a mother, she just instinctively feels and feels very wary of. She loves her little tribe. She loves her family. She wants them to have their freedom and not be, in any way, I suppose, restricted or possibly threatened. It was important to me to really play that side of her.”
Where Are Jake & Neytiri’s Lives At The Start Of Avatar: The Way of Water?
The main characters in both Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are Jake and Neytiri, who are portrayed by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana. But a lot has transpired since the events of the prior movie, which was released in 2009, more than ten years ago. With the sequel taking place more than ten years after the first movie and giving the original human Jake plenty of time to adjust to his new body as a Na’vi, it will be acknowledged that time has passed.
Much has changed for both characters during that time. They become parents in the interim, which is the most noticeable change. Overall, Jake and Neytiri have five children, three of whom are biological: Tuktirey (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), and Neteyam (Jamie Flatters). One of their adopted kids is a Na’vi named Kiri (Sigourney Weaver, who portrays the role of a teenager via motion capture), and the other is a human named Spider (Jack Champion), who was born on the Hells Gate base and left behind when the mining company left the planet.
Their focus has changed from the original Avatar, which focused on Jake discovering the Na’vi culture and falling in love with Neytiri. Both of them feel a strong connection to the earth and their family, which they want to preserve. While the specifics of the plot of Avatar: The Way of Water are still being kept under wraps, it is likely that despite their initial mistrust, the various Na’vi tribes will eventually come to some sort of understanding and cooperate to repel the human invasion.
Source: Collider