James Cameron Says ‘Avatar’ Wanted to Avoid “‘Stranger Things’ Effect” of High Schoolers Who “Look Like They’re 27”

James Cameron is well aware that his projects aren’t the only ones that have dealt with the changing appearances of child cast members over the years.

during a recent entertainment weekly interview, the filmmaker offered more context for his decision to film his recently released sequel. Avatar: The Path of Water concurrent with the third film in the franchise, slated for a 2024 release, and a portion of the fourth film, given that the growth spurt of younger performers could change their appearance. For example, actor Jack Champion, who plays Spider in the movies, was 13 years old when the path of water He started shooting, but now he is 18 years old.

“Otherwise you get, and I love Strange things – but you get the Strange things effect where they are still supposed to be in high school [but] they look like they are 27 years old,” Cameron explained. “You know, I love the show. Okay, we’ll suspend disbelief. We like the characters, but, you know.”

In a recent interview with the hollywood reporter, Champion praised the connection he formed with Cameron during their four and a half years of filming. “He’s just a cinematic genius,” Champion said. “After so many years, he has become a kind of father figure to me.”

During a subsequent interview with THRChampion said that seeing the path of water it can feel like a “time capsule” since she’s been growing up in front of the cameras: “So it’s great to see my teenage years on screen, but I still get to immerse myself in the world of Pandora.”