“ WHEN YOU PLAY OUTSIDE OR DAYDREAM, YOU’RE CREATING STORIES, IMAGINING YOURSELF AS A SUPERHERO OR WHATEVER, THAT IMAGINATION IS WHAT BUILDS CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING SKILLS.”

—  JACK CHAMPION

Säsìlpey. Hope. In the Na’vi language, it is a simple word, yet it carries profound weight; a force that drives action, fuels imagination, and inspires resilience.

For Jack Champion, who has grown up in the Avatar franchise as Spider, it is a lens through which he sees both Pandora and our own world. Having joined the franchise as a teenager, Jack experienced firsthand what it means to come of age inside one of the most visually ambitious stories ever told. From stepping onto international red carpets to filming in front of green screens, imagining entire worlds, and relying on creativity to bring Spider to life, his journey is a reminder that imagination remains essential even in an era dominated by technology. At the heart of Spider’s story is a sense of being in-between: human on the outside, Na’vi on the inside, navigating the tensions of belonging to two worlds. That duality mirrors the realities many face today, from questions of identity and responsibility to the pressures of a rapidly changing world. Spider’s story and Jack’s own journey are about understanding one’s place in the world while striving to make it better. Central to both is hope. It motivates action, strengthens connection, and sustains resilience. It reminds us of the importance of presence, exploration, and the power of imagination. Whether through the lessons of friendship, family, or the drive to create, hope remains the guiding force that shapes lives, stories, and the bonds we forge. With the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, audiences return to Pandora, a world as breathtaking as it is instructive. Avatar has always been a universe where wonder and connection intersect, where the extraordinary reveals something deeply human. This return is more than a cinematic event; it is a meditation on identity, creativity, and the enduring power of hope. Säsìlpey is not just a word from another world, it is a force we can carry with us, shaping the way we live, imagine, and connect.

David Gargiulo __ The premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash has been a massive global event. What was it like stepping onto that red carpet and seeing all the fans celebrate this world you’ve grown up in?

Jack Champion __  It was amazing. Everywhere we went, there were so many fans, people who genuinely loved the movie and really cared about it. That was incredibly cool for me to experience because it’s not every day you step out and see hundreds of people showing up like that. You’d see people painted like the Na’vi, or dressed like Spider, and they were all showing so much love and respect for the film. That kind of support means the world to me.

DG __ Did you get to experience the cities you traveled to or was it more nonstop travel?

JC __ It was pretty much travel, travel, travel. But I got about half a day in each city. I’d travel in the evenings so I could have most of the day to just wander around. I really enjoyed Paris and Milan, but coming back to Wellington was especially meaningful because I filmed there for two years. That place feels like family to me. I actually stayed an extra two days just to see people I hadn’t seen in a long time.

DG __ Which was your favorite?

JC __ Wellington because of how much time I spent there. But as far as places that were newer to me, I loved Milan. It’s very welcoming. Italian culture feels warm, like you’re being treated as a long-lost cousin.

DG __ You’re not just saying that because I’m Italian, right? [laughs]

JC __ No, not at all. [laughs] I genuinely loved it. And the food helps. Nothing against French food, the bread is amazing, but I did try snails there. And if I have to choose between pizza, pasta, or snails, I’m going pizza and pasta every time.

DG __ Amen, my friend. Amen! [laughs] You started at an early age in this franchise. What did you have to learn at a young age to stay grounded in something this big?

JC __ I think the people around me really helped. My mom was with me the whole time and she played a huge role in keeping me grounded. I never felt like I was better than anyone else because I was constantly humbled on set. I understood how big of an opportunity it was, not just for me, but for my family and my life. I made genuine friends and I always felt like part of the team.

DG __ Keep it like that. We love that about you. Looking back at the prior Avatar movies, what do you think has changed in you over time and what has stayed the same?

JC __ I think I’ve changed a lot in terms of energy. I was a teenager filming the earlier movies so I had this insatiable ball of energy, always running around, wrestling, being physical. Now, I’d say that energy has tamed a bit as I’ve slowly grown into an adult. But something that hasn’t changed is my imagination. Most people’s imagination dwindles as they get older because of life stresses, but working on Avatar made me use my imagination every day. Being on set with such creative people kept it strong and I think it’s as powerful as it’s ever been.

“ THE INTERNET WAS BUILT TO CONNECT US, BUT IT OFTEN DOES THE OPPOSITE. REAL CONNECTION COMES FROM NATURE AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU.”

DG __ Regarding your energy I couldn’t tell watching Avatar: Fire and Ash. Spider’s constantly running around. [laughs]

JC __ Yeah, I filmed parts two and three back-to-back when I was about 14 to 16, so a lot of that energy is still captured in the movies.

DG __ And looking ahead, we’ll get to see a more mature Spider?

JC __ We’ve done a bit of pre-filming for four and five but the main filming hasn’t started yet. I really hope we get to make them because it’s such a cool story. The franchise is incredible.

DG __ You mentioned imagination earlier, which is crucial for Avatar, since so much of it is computer generated, I assume you filmed in front of a green screen.

JC __ Absolutely. Half the time, I’m imagining the scene completely in my head. James Cameron would explain the setup: “So-and-so is chasing you in the jungle,” and I’d have to picture it. Sometimes there’s a prop, like a log to jump over, but mostly it’s imagination.

DG __ I like that a lot. I feel that unfortunately today with everything so ready-made, like social media, video games, streaming services, kids play less and imagine less.

JC __ Exactly. That’s why it’s so important. When you play outside or daydream, you’re creating stories, imagining yourself as a superhero or whatever. That imagination is what builds creativity and storytelling skills. Even when I was bored at school, I’d just sit there and imagine stuff. That muscle in your brain is what helps you eventually craft stories. Daydreaming is seriously underrated for creativity.

DG __ Especially with everyone so worried about AI taking over and building scripts. But I am of the camp that’s not really true. AI can only build from what’s given as input. It uses existing inputs so it can only remix the past. But human ingenuity always creates new and original things.

JC __ Spot on. For example, recently some big companies have been using AI-generated ads. They needed over a thousand prompts just to get something halfway decent. And even then, AI only regurgitates human-made stuff and not as well. If you ask AI to write a book, it’s usually very bland. I get why people are afraid, but I don’t think we should be. We should never underestimate the power of human creativity. 

DG __ Over a thousand prompts!? That’s probably about the same amount of time it would take to do it yourself. Back to Avatar, Spider is the only fully human character raised by the Na’vi. How did you think about that sense of being in-between when you first approached the role? Do you think that feeling of in-between-ness is something your generation relates to today?

JC __ I feel like Spider is someone who feels like a Na’vi on the inside but is human on the outside. He can’t fully fit in with humans and can’t fully fit in with the Na’vi. That tension, that dilemma, is something I think everyone feels to some degree, whether small or big. It’s not just Spider, either. Characters like Loach and Kiri, all the young characters are going through some kind of identity crisis. It’s a very human experience and it’s something people of all ages can relate to multiple times in their lives. That’s one reason why this film is so powerful and relatable. People anywhere, America, India, Asia, can watch it and find something in it that resonates with them.

“IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE PRESENT AND REALLY LIVE YOUR LIFE. GO OUT, DO THINGS, SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN PERSON. EXPLORE THE WORLD AND ALL IT HAS TO OFFER.”

DG __ I love you mentioned the identity crisis. Adolescence is really the moment when you’re in-between, trying to find yourself. And I have a feeling that adolescents think adults have it all figured out. I’d argue the contrary: I think society right now is going through an identity crisis, especially in democracies.

JC __ I think adults go through identity crises too. Take Jake, after losing a son, he’s questioning what it means to be a father. And everyone expects him to be Toruk Makto, the great warrior. He’s asking himself: “Am I a human soldier? A Na’vi warrior? A leader?” Right now, with so much happening in the world, I feel like humanity itself is going through an identity crisis not just in the West, but globally. Technology, AI, and so many cultural shifts affect people everywhere. I have friends all over the globe, and the changes we feel culturally and technologically are felt everywhere. That’s part of what makes the story so relatable. Change is constant. Like Bob Dylan said, “the times they are a-changin’,” I think we’re seeing a similar shift today.

DG __ Funny question, If Spider were a Na’vi. How would you imagine his Avatar?

JC __ I’ve always wondered what I’d look like as a Na’vi. I feel like Spider would probably look a lot like Jake and be a pretty cool and strong Na’vi.

DG __ Definitely. Spider has a very strong personality. That brings me to another question about strength. Spider’s very strong in his mind, but doesn’t have the power, the weapons, or the status because he lives in a reality where everyone around him is bigger and stronger. That made me wonder: even though he’s mentally strong, he must feel helpless, surrounded by these gigantic creatures. And it made me think about younger people in our world, since many can’t vote or influence decisions yet. What’s your take on both Spider and that real-world sense of helplessness the youth may feel?

JC __  I feel like Spider is a young person who really wants to make a change. Along with his friends and other young people, he wants to take action, but sometimes it feels a little helpless. In Way of Water, they were putting their trust fully in the adults. Now, they’re realizing the adults don’t have it figured out. So as the next generation of Pandora, they have to take things into their own hands and make change. Not to defy the older generation but create a better way forward. I think that’s relatable to young people on Earth too. It can be frustrating when the people in power are older and disconnected from the real world. Young people see the world they’ve grown up in and recognize the changes that need to happen. That frustration and desire to act, that’s something the movie really taps into. I hope audiences feel that connection.

DG __ Talking about James Cameron; what’s one human note he gave you that’s stayed with you?

JC __ I think it’s less of a verbal note and more the example he sets. He has this will and determination to keep going, no matter how hard the day is. That’s something I’ve really learned from him and love about Jim. There were days where we’d be underwater for three hours at a time waiting to set up shots. Jim would set the vibe on set; he’s been to the Mariana Trench, he’s been to the Titanic. He’s a real-life explorer with incredible grit. We all look up to that determination and try to match it. I like to think I carry a bit of that determination myself.

DG __ One thing I really like about Avatar and the world of Pandora is that sense of interconnection. When we created the internet and social media, the goal was the same, more interconnection. What do you think stories like Avatar remind us about interconnection? And if you think we’re getting it wrong today, how do we correct course?

Creative Director Kevin Sinclair, Styling Carlee Wallace (Art Department), Interviewer David Gargiulo, Groomer Michael Dueñas (Tomlinson Management Group) using Arove Beauty, Assistant Stylist Christina Loughborough, Talent Jack Champion (Narrative PR), Locations (Los Angeles) Period Correct, Prune Hair Atelier.

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