Bold opening: The Avatar craze has reached a fever pitch in Wellington, drawing thousands to the Australasian premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Courtenay Place overflowed with excitement last night as stars, filmmakers, and local crews rolled through Blair Street to the Embassy Theatre, marking a high-energy moment for New Zealand’s film industry. Sam Worthington, Cliff Curtis, Jack Champion, and Duane Evans Jr., alongside producers and crew, led a star-studded march along the red carpet through the city center, igniting a festive buzz that swept from the streets into the theatre doors.
Director James Cameron, who recently became a New Zealand citizen, told RNZ on the red carpet that the turnout reflected strong civic and national pride in the country’s film sector. He emphasized that the local crews are here because of Aotearoa’s filmmakers, yet he also stressed that more work remains to keep the industry thriving. Cameron highlighted the need to avoid Hollywood’s dominance from overshadowing opportunities in New Zealand and Australia, urging a collaborative approach to sustain the screen industry’s momentum. He pointed to Covid as a reminder of the fragile recovery and called for more training programs to bring young talent into the fold, along with a governmental rebate scheme that better supports the sector. He suggested the government revisit and expand incentives, arguing that even with November’s expanded eligibility, the package still falls short.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis, in turn, announced that the updates would broaden the range of productions the sector can attract, underscoring a national resolve to strengthen local capabilities.
Avatar: Fire and Ash reportedly peaked at about 1,600 crew members, with the production spanning three years. Senior VFX supervisor Eric Saindon shared with RNZ a staggering render-time figure: if processed on a single processor, the project would require roughly 145,000 years of compute time. Joe Letteri, another senior VFX supervisor, praised Cameron for nurturing a culture of innovation, noting that its essence lies in tackling new, previously uncharted challenges. Daniel Barrett, senior animation supervisor, echoed the sentiment, underscoring the significance of New Zealand’s screen industry for both Wellington and the country at large, while expressing personal pride in his own Wellington roots.
Fans began gathering for the premiere as early as midday, with barriers filling up, spectators perched on balconies, and some even climbing trees and bus stops for a better view. Worthington described the crowd as “amazing,” joking that passersby joked about interrupting their shopping but that many were genuinely connected to the event. He spoke warmly about returning to the city, noting that extended filming blocks in Wellington have fostered a generous and welcoming atmosphere from locals.
Worthington teased a playful note for Kiwis, suggesting many may spot themselves in the film thanks to the extensive Wellington crew. He credited the local talent for underpinning a production of Avatar’s scale and ambition, reinforcing the claim that images of this magnitude rely on a strong, capable community.
Actor Jack Champion, who portrays Spider, shared personal memories of growing up in Wellington during the franchise’s early days. He reflected on his first beer at an Irish pub on Cuba Street and rock-skipping adventures at Karaka Bay. Now 21 and back for the premiere, he even stopped by the Chocolate Fish cafe in Miramar before its closure to bid farewell.
By 6:30 p.m., the cast, crew, and other VIP guests had entered the Embassy Theatre for the screening of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which opens in local cinemas on Thursday, December 18.
