The Future of Avatar 3: Potential Replacements for Jake Sully Revealed

While Avatar 3 may not necessarily replace Jake Sully as the protagonist of the franchise, Avatar: The Way of Water has set the stage for this potential change. The Avatar series has always been larger than just Jake Sully. Sam Worthington's character, a human marine turned Na'vi resistance member, served as a gateway for audiences to enter the world of Pandora. As the literal avatar, Jake allowed viewers to explore this new realm through a relatable human lens. With Pandora now well-established, Jake's role is no longer essential.

This doesn't necessarily mean that Jake will be retired or killed off in the upcoming Avatar 3 in 2025. However, it does suggest that the sequel may introduce a new point-of-view character for the franchise. Avatar: The Way of Water, released in 2022, already shifted its focus between Jake and his children, demonstrating a broader narrative scope compared to the original film. Avatar 3 could further expand on this by relegating Jake to a supporting role while a new protagonist takes the spotlight. In fact, Avatar: The Way of Water has already introduced a potential new lead for the franchise.

Avatar: The Way of Water Already Switched The Franchise’s Hero

Avatar’s first sequel introduced Lo’ak as a new protagonist

Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri standing intimately close in the forest of Pandora in Avatar - Avatar’s first sequel introduced Lo’ak as a new protagonist - Avatar: The Way of Water Already Switched The Franchise’s Hero

Avatar: The Way of Water introduced Jake and Neytiri's expanded family in the beginning, showcasing a significant time leap that bridged the gap between the original film and its sequel. Despite all their children receiving ample screen time, the spotlight shifted to Jake's son Lo'ak as the main character in Avatar: The Way of Water. The narrative delved into his bond with his father, his struggles adapting to life with the Metkayina, and his relationship with Payakan the Tulkun, ultimately reducing Jake's role to a supporting one.

Avatar: The Way of Water Implied Kiri Has Superpowers

This was not a bad thing, since Avatar 3 could leave Lo’ak among the Metkayina while the rest of the clan moved on. Avatar: The Way of Water spent so much time with Jake’s son that the character can now sustain a subplot of his own in the movie’s sequel. However, Lo’ak is not the only character who seems set to become more important as the series continues. Sigourney Weaver’s Kiri, whose mysterious parentage has already made her a compelling presence, seems increasingly likely to become the new heroine of the Avatar franchise in the coming sequels.

Sigourney Weaver’s character clearly has some secret significance

Kiri looking off thoughtfully into the distance in Avatar - Sigourney Weaver’s character clearly has some secret significance - Avatar: The Way of Water Implied Kiri Has Superpowers

Kiri already has a potential love interest

Spider and Kiri’s Avatar franchise relationship was already established

Spider and Kiri in Avatar 2 Edited - Spider and Kiri’s Avatar franchise relationship was already established - Kiri Already Has A Potential Love Interest

Kiri’s Casting Makes Her Bigger Role Likely

Jack Champion’s Spider was clearly besotted with Kiri early in Avatar: The Way of Water, and viewers already know that he will be a major character throughout the rest of the sequels. This means that the odds of Kiri becoming a more important character are even higher since she is already linked to one of the sequel’s biggest new characters. Spider’s inability to choose between Jake and Quaritch will be a major plot in Avatar 3, and Kiri could help the character with this difficult decision as the series continues.

James Cameron bringing back Sigourney Weaver bodes well

Custom image of Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar and as Kiri in Avatar: The Way of Water. - James Cameron bringing back Sigourney Weaver bodes well - Kiri’s Casting Makes Her Bigger Role Likely

Kiri’s role in the Avatar sequels is likely to be central, as it would be weird for Aliens director James Cameron to hire that cult classic's leading lady, Sigourney Weaver, to play a minor supporting character. Avatar: The Way of Water’s ending saw Kiri save Neytiri from certain death, meaning she is as much a part of the Sully family as Lo’ak or Tuk. As a result, Avatar 3 can now focus more screen time on Kiri’s story.

Pulling focus away from Jake in the sequels would benefit the series as a whole, expanding the world of the franchise. Some of Avatar: The Way of Water’s most compelling moments came from Lo‘ak and Payakan, Spider’s struggles with his father, and Kiri exploring her powers, all of which were only tangentially related to Jake’s story. If the sequels continue to sideline Jake, Avatar 3 and its sequels can make Pandora’s inhabitants feel more fleshed out and real.

Jake’s Avatar Story Has To End Eventually

The Avatar series always had to outgrow Jake Sully

Lo'ak talks to his crush in the woods in Avatar The Way of Water - The Avatar series always had to outgrow Jake Sully - Jake’s Avatar Story Has To End Eventually

Jake learned a significant lesson in the original Avatar - the importance of sacrificing oneself for a greater cause. This makes the idea of his death in Avatar 3 or a future sequel thematically fitting, especially with the ongoing threat of human invasion on Pandora. The escalating aggression from humans sets the stage for intense clashes involving Tulkun hunters, marines, and other enemies, positioning Jake at the center of the conflict. Instead of prolonging his story throughout multiple sequels, giving Jake a meaningful end could bring a powerful conclusion to the franchise.

Kiri’s Age Means She Can Keep The Avatar Series Going

The later Avatar movies need a younger lead character

Jake and Kiri sitting by the water looking sad in Avatar: The Way of Water - The later Avatar movies need a younger lead character - Kiri’s Age Means She Can Keep The Avatar Series Going

If Jake were to be killed off in the series, a new protagonist would be necessary for the Avatar franchise. Kiri emerges as a suitable candidate due to her significantly younger age compared to the original hero and villain. With a considerable gap between the original movie and Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake continues to engage in violent conflicts, while Quaritch has already met his demise. Kiri's youth positions her as a representation of a fresh generation of Na’vi/human hybrids, especially given her strong connection to Eywa and deep bond with Pandora.

Weaver’s character, with her special bond with Eywa, has the potential to unite all of Pandora’s Na’vi in a way that Jake never could. This could be crucial in future Avatar sequels, potentially leading to Kiri replacing Jake after his eventual demise. If Jake is not killed off in the series, his continued survival would strain believability and miss out on a fitting symbolic conclusion to his story arc. However, should Avatar 3 or its sequels choose to let Jake sacrifice himself for a greater cause, Avatar: The Way of Water has already paved the way for his ideal successor.

Editor's P/S:

The article argues that Jake Sully may not remain the protagonist of the Avatar franchise, with Avatar: The Way of Water introducing potential replacements like Lo'ak and Kiri. It suggests that their expanded roles and compelling storylines could lead to a shift in focus away from Jake. The exploration of new perspectives and characters would enhance the world of Pandora and provide a fresh impetus for the franchise.

Personally, I find this perspective intriguing. While Jake Sully has been an integral part of the Avatar universe, expanding the narrative beyond his character would broaden the scope of the story and allow for deeper exploration of the Na'vi culture and the challenges they face. The introduction of new protagonists with distinct experiences and perspectives would add complexity to the franchise and keep it engaging for audiences.