Avatar: The Way Of Water Fans Are Seeing Shades Of Anakin In Kiri
For the longest time, it seemed that the announced follow-up to James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi fantasy epic "Avatar" would never see the light of day. But after a 13-year-long wait, moviegoers everywhere can finally dive back into the world of Pandora with "Avatar: The Way of Water." The sequel, which finds Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family living amongst a water-dwelling Na'vi tribe to escape the vengeance of a resurrected Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), had the tall task of getting audiences interested in Pandora again, while also introducing new ideas and characters that will have a major impact on the franchise as it moves forward.
One of the most significant new additions is the character of Kiri (Sigourney Weaver). The biological offspring of Dr. Grace Augustine (Weaver), who died during the events of the first film, Kiri has lived her life as part of Sully's family unit. Kiri is a highlight of the three-hour-plus film, as it explores her abilities in communicating with nature and the struggle she experiences as an outsider to both the Na'vi and human worlds. And still, there is plenty of mystery surrounding the character — both Kiri and the audience are left in the dark regarding who her father is.
As fans await the upcoming third installment of the "Avatar" franchise — scheduled to arrive in December 2024 — an Internet theory predicts that Kiri's origins might mirror those of a certain Sith lord.
Will Avatar pull an Anakin Skywalker?
Although we are told that Kiri is the daughter of Dr. Grace Augustine, her father is never brought up, leading some "Avatar" fans to believe that Kiri's backstory is similar to one of the most popular "Star Wars" characters. "I think Kiri's father was somehow the planet or Eywa. Sort of like an Anakin [Skywalker] situation, 'born from the force' type of deal," Twitter user @LightspeedLad mused shortly after the release of "Avatar: The Way of Water."
On Reddit, u/zach2992 asked others what they believe her origins to be while also referring to Skywalker. Redditor u/Axiom06 likes the "Star Wars" approach: "I could see them pulling an Anakin Skywalker. I just hope they do it in a very [well-written] way." Other Redditors also believe that Kiri could be connected to the Na'vi deity Eywa. Her unique connection to the world around her, as the "Avatar" sequel states more than once, is a further hint.
For those who do not recall, Skywalker is introduced as a virgin birth in "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace." Might Kiri and future "Avatar" installments follow in those footsteps? With even Sigourney Weaver currently unaware of Kiri's origins (via Collider), it's looking like the reveal could be something grander than anyone could have expected. Hopefully, "Avatar 3" will lift the veil of secrecy surrounding her lineage.