Sigourney Weaver as Kiri in the Avatar Franchise
Sigourney Weaver portrays Kiri, the teenage daughter of Jake Sully and Neytiri, in the Avatar sequel series. The character first appeared in Avatar: The Way of Water, released in December 2022, and returned in Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in December 2024. Weaver was 74 years old during the production of Avatar: Fire and Ash, according to public reports from entertainment outlets like Forbes. The Avatar franchise is produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The character of Kiri was created by director James Cameron and screenwriter Josh Friedman. Kiri is a Na'vi-human hybrid, born from a neural connection to the avatar of Grace Augustine, a deceased scientist from the first Avatar film. Weaver's performance combines motion capture and voice acting. The Avatar films are shot using advanced stereoscopic 3D camera systems and performance capture technology developed by Cameron's team at Lightstorm Entertainment.
Box Office and Franchise Performance Data
Avatar: The Way of Water grossed approximately $2.32 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022. Avatar: Fire and Ash earned approximately $1.46 billion globally as of early 2025, according to industry tracking data reported by Box Office Mojo. The combined global box office for the Avatar franchise now exceeds $5.5 billion across the first three films. Disney reported the Avatar franchise as one of its highest-grossing IP categories in its fiscal earnings reports.
The Avatar franchise uses a unique release model, with each sequel expanding the world and character arcs introduced in the first film. Avatar: The Way of Water holds a 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, while Avatar: Fire and Ash holds a 77% critics score. Both films are rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, fantasy elements, and some sensuality. The films are shot at higher frame rates and resolutions than standard theatrical releases.
Sigourney Weaver's Career and Franchise Role
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress known for roles in Alien, Aliens, Ghostbusters, and Avatar. She has received four Academy Award nominations and won a Golden Globe for her role in Gorillas in the Mist. Her casting as Kiri was confirmed by James Cameron in interviews with The Hollywood Reporter during the production of Avatar: The Way of Water. Weaver signed on for multiple Avatar sequels, with her role expanding across the planned five-film series.
The Avatar franchise is scheduled to include five main films, with Avatar: Fire and Ash being the second sequel. The third sequel, Avatar 3, is currently in post-production, with a release window projected for late 2025 or 2026. The franchise is developed by Lightstorm Entertainment and financed through a combination of Disney studio funding and international distribution partnerships. Cameron has described the series as a long-form narrative exploring the ecology and culture of Pandora.