‘Avatar’ Bombshell: James Cameron Sued for Ripping off Likeness of Indigenous Actress

At last, a conservative news aggregator that does not bow to the woke right.

In this Blaze Media article, Andrew Chapados reports on a lawsuit accusing James Cameron, Disney, and Lightstorm Entertainment of using actress Q’orianka Kilcher’s likeness as an alleged basis for Neytiri in the “Avatar” franchise without her consent.

Q’orianka Kilcher, who played Pocahontas in the 2005 film “The New World,” claims her likeness was used as inspiration for Neytiri, the “Avatar” character portrayed by Zoe Saldana.
The lawsuit alleges Cameron was struck by Kilcher’s appearance when she was a young actress and later used her facial features in production sketches and digital modeling.
Kilcher says she learned of the connection after meeting Cameron in 2010, when he allegedly gave her a signed sketch with a note saying her beauty had been his “early inspiration” for Neytiri.
The legal complaint reportedly claims her likeness was replicated in production art, sculpted into 3D models, laser-scanned, and distributed to visual effects companies.
The filing also points to a 2024 interview in which Cameron discussed using a photograph of Kilcher from “The New World” as part of the visual-development process.
Cameron reportedly said in that interview that Kilcher was not the true inspiration for Neytiri and that once Zoe Saldana was cast, the character began to resemble Saldana.
Kilcher’s attorney framed the alleged conduct as “extraction,” accusing the filmmakers of profiting from the unique biometric features of an indigenous teenage girl.
The article notes the irony that the “Avatar” franchise presents itself as sympathetic to indigenous peoples while now facing allegations of exploiting an indigenous actress.
Disney, Lightstorm Entertainment, and Cameron’s representatives reportedly did not respond to requests for comment cited in the article.
The article states that the “Avatar” trilogy has grossed more than $1.8 billion at the box office, with two additional films planned for 2029 and 2031.

Read the full story: https://www.theblaze.com/align/avatar-bombshell-james-cameron-sued-for-ripping-off-likeness-of-indigenous-actress