Avatar star Sam Worthington almost killed a poodle getting into character, reveals James Cameron

'He just instinctively drew his bow and almost shot the dog'

Sam Worthington almost killed a poodle while preparing for his role in Avatar, director James Cameron has revealed.

The director explained that the Australian actor went to Hawaii to “connect with nature” ahead of filming, and perhaps went a little too far.

He recounted the incident to Variety for an article commemorate the film’s 10th anniversary: “Sam was literally running around in kind of like a jockstrap, like a loincloth, and I mean he’s pure white,” he said. “He hasn’t been in the sun in two years, he’s just pure white.

“He’s wearing this strap-on wig that looked ridiculous with kind of a chinstrap and he’s got a bow and arrow and he comes around a bend in the path and he comes out onto the path and there’s a guy walking his poodle. And Sam just instinctively draws his bow and almost shoots the poodle. He was so in character.

Cameron added: “The guy said, ‘What are you doing?’ and Sam says, ‘We’re making a movie, mate!’”

Worthington will return as the character Jake Sully in three sequels, which Cameron is currently working on now.

Avatar's official Twitter page recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo, introducing followers to a new craft called the Sea Dragon.

“That’s a wrap, Na’vi Nation!” the tweet read. “It’s our last day of live-action filming in 2019, and we’re celebrating with a sneak peek.

“Check out this photo of the aft well deck section of the Sea Dragon, a massive mothership that carries an array of other sea-going craft in the sequels.”

Cameron recently expressed his worry that the films will flop at the box office.

The sequels wil reunite Worthington with Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver, alongside new cast members Kate Winslet, Vin Diesel, Jermaine Clement, Michelle Yeoh and Edie Falco.

Avatar 2 is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on 17 December, 2021.  

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