Curtis loves idea of Hollywood-at-home
The New Zealand actor tells why he can’t wait for his next role to start.
Cliff Curtis has spoken for the first-time about being head-hunted for a lead role in the next four Avatar movies.
The Kiwi actor, seen by many as our top export to Hollywood, said he couldn’t be happier with the new role.
‘‘It was totally left of field,’’ he said from Auckland Airport before taking a flight to Los Angeles. ‘‘Just the way they’ve conducted this, the way they’ve put it together, the way they approached me about it – it’s a real dream process, I don’t think it gets any better than that.’’
New Zealand-based director James Cameron and US producer Jon Landau announced the news this week that Curtis was set to play Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina, the reef people clan, in the next four films that are expected to be released between 2020 and 2025.
Avatar, one of the highestgrossing films of all time, delivered themes and technological features that really called to Curtis.
‘‘Metaphorically, it’s like looking at Mother Earth and how we treat and relate to Mother Earth and how greed and the tools of colonisation can be detrimental if there is no balance,’’ he said.
‘‘These are very strong themes, they’re very prevalent, as a metaphor, for how we want to live on our planet and there’s definitely strong reference to indigenous cultures and that we’re all indigenous to our planet and we all have values that we could look to for our next generation as to how we want to use the resources wisely on our planet.
‘‘Then there’s just the spectacle of it – the spectacular 3D-action sequences and entertainment value. It’s pure genius what [James Cameron] did in terms of creating this other world – it’s an amazing accomplishment.’’
Cameron, the award-winning director of films like Titanic, The Terminator and Aliens, is expected to experiment with some out-ofthis world production and technology during the four-film shoot.
However, details of that side of the project are being kept under wraps.
‘‘James Cameron, being who he is, he’s going to always push the bar higher and try to outdo himself and technology,’’ Curtis said.
‘‘It’s really exciting to see what he is going to achieve and what he’s going to come up with next, because nobody knows.
‘‘The technology is being built to achieve something that has never been done before. It’s amazing to be a part of it, it’s a real privilege.
‘‘One of the great pleasures and joys of being an actor is being able to exist and being able to inhabit different worlds and roles and I don’t think you could get any further out there in the universe than what James Cameron is creating.’’
Curtis has featured in some of New Zealand’s most celebrated films, including The Piano, Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider and The Dark Horse.
In Hollywood, his career took off thanks to major roles in Blow, Training Day and Collateral Damage.
He starred as Jesus in Risen and has just finished his role in Meg, the partly Auckland-shot Jason Statham-starring shark horror, which is expected to be released next year. He’s also set to feature in the third season of American TV show as Travis Manawa, a MaoriAmerican father killing zombies.
‘‘I think one of the things that I developed over my career is to ground characters with an