Why One Scene In Avatar: The Way Of Water Made Joel David Moore Cry During Filming
While the first "Avatar" film was largely centered on an outsider who is adopted into a new culture, its 2022 sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," is about a family trying to survive and stay together. For Joel David Moore — who plays Dr. Norm Spellman, the human xenoanthropologist whose allegiances lie with the Na'vi — it was a little about family behind the scenes too.
Joel's son, Oliver "Ollie" Moore, made his acting debut in the second "Avatar" movie, playing the first child of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) as a newborn. Yep, he's baby Neteyam. (In a movie that's about the next generation, this is a bit fitting.) Ollie, who is now five, was just three months old then. For his dad, who was part of the scene as well, the moment was too much to deal with.
"[As] Norm, I was supposed to be very engaged in the newborn Na'vi with the clan, with the rest of the Omaticaya clan," Joel told People. "And what I didn't realize is that I would just start bawling, crying in the scene because it was my son. And I had to go and say [to director James Cameron], 'Look Jim, I'm going to pull it back the next one. I think I just had to get one of those out. This is a special moment.' [When my wife] got to that set and saw Ollie up there, she lost it as well. We were just both bubbling with tears."
The younger Moore's involvement came about thanks to "Avatar" producer Jon Landau. Joel was "delighted" to bring Ollie in and called the experience "a joy of a lifetime."
Baby Neteyam loves to tell everyone he's in Avatar
Given Oliver Moore only had a few precious seconds of screentime in "Avatar: The Way of Water," he was only on set for a day. His father estimates Ollie spent a total of 15 minutes. (Still, Ollie had a trailer of his own.) "He probably had two or three takes total, something around there, which is the shortest amount of takes that maybe has ever happened on 'Avatar,'" Joel David Moore added jokingly.
Having a three-month-old on set is naturally a lot to navigate for the crew as well. Joel revealed that Ollie began crying "about five, maybe seven minutes in," because he had no idea what was happening and had been separated from his mother, Joel's wife Katherine Braham. He added: "I will never forget when Katherine brought Ollie to Zoe [Saldaña for the scene] and Zoe said, 'Oh, you've got that new mama shine,' to Katherine. And then she just blushed. It was just such a fun moment."
While Ollie may not remember his experience, the now-five-year-old loves to tell whoever he meets that he's in "Avatar." And even though the Moore kid may not be able to comprehend the technological complexities involved in creating a Na'vi baby, Joel noted that his son has watched his scene and knows "to a degree" that it's him playing the newborn.
"Avatar" isn't the only recent blockbuster to go down this route. "Thor: Love and Thunder" gave roles to Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky and their three kids. (His daughter India Rose Hemsworth played Love, Gorr's daughter who is adopted by Thor.) Natalie Portman's son and daughter, Christian Bale's children, and Taika Waititi's daughter also had cameos in the Marvel movie.
The next step with the family
Don't expect Oliver Moore to make another appearance anytime soon though, in the "Avatar" franchise or elsewhere. Joel David Moore said he's raising his children — he also has a daughter who's two years old — outside of Hollywood as much as possible. That said, the dad himself will be back for more. "Avatar 3" has already been shot, per Cameron, and "Avatar 4" is currently filming.
Calling his role as Dr. Norm Spellman "really interesting," Moore said the "Avatar" sequels are "richer" and "more robust" from a narrative standpoint. He's excited about the ever-expanding future of Pandora, something director James Cameron has previously spoken about as well. The next film is set to introduce two new Na'vi cultures, and every new "Avatar" chapter will showcase another side of the fictional planet.
"I've read ['Avatar 4'] and I'm telling you there is so much joy to come in the world of 'Avatar.' I can't say too much about the actual storylines, but Norm has a really fun, lovely journey ahead of him," Moore added. "The third film is going to be even more [emotional]. We're just piling on every time with the emotions because every time that you take that next step with that family, it's going to be a more emotional journey."
"Avatar 3" is slated to release in cinemas in December 2024, with "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5" to follow every alternate December thereafter. Given the "Avatar" franchise is going to essentially run through the 2020s, who knows, we might get to see Ollie come back and play a young Neteyam down the road. Never say never.