Veteran actress Edie Falco is embracing her time in the Avatar universe. The Emmy-winning star recently opened up about her experience working on Avatar: Fire and Ash, calling the process both inspiring and humbling as she collaborated once again with visionary director James Cameron.
Falco, 62, who plays antagonist General Ardmore in the Avatar franchise, spoke exclusively with People while attending the Mayor of Kingstown season 4 screening in New York City. Reflecting on the scale of Cameron’s filmmaking, she described the experience in awe-filled terms.
“It’s another whole world,” Falco said. “And it’s kind of a great honor to be a part of the stuff that James Cameron imagines and makes happen.”
‘A Great Honor’ to Join Cameron’s Vision
Falco praised Cameron’s relentless creativity and technical innovation, noting that working on the Avatar films is unlike any other project in her career.
“He’s invented machines and new ways of shooting,” she explained. “To be invited to be a part of that, I’m very lucky.”
Cameron, now 71, is known for pushing cinematic boundaries, and Avatar: Fire and Ash continues that tradition with new technology and expanded world-building on Pandora.
A Director with Childlike Curiosity
When asked what sets Cameron apart from other directors, Falco highlighted his enthusiasm and curiosity.
“He’s like a little kid,” she said. “He’s got all kinds of ideas and that excitement about making a story that you do when you first start out. That was very refreshing.”
According to Falco, that sense of wonder carries through even on massive, effects-driven productions, keeping the creative energy alive on set.
Exploring the ‘Ash People’ and a Darker Side of Pandora
While cast members have remained tight-lipped about plot specifics, Cameron has previously teased what audiences can expect from Avatar: Fire and Ash. The film introduces the “Ash People,” a new Na’vi culture tied symbolically to fire. Cameron explained in past interviews that the upcoming chapter aims to flip earlier moral dynamics in the franchise. Rather than portraying the Na’vi solely as virtuous, the film explores more complex and morally ambiguous cultures.
“You’re going to meet two completely new cultures,” Cameron has said, hinting at a broader journey across Pandora beyond familiar regions like the Omaticaya and Metkayina.
A Star-Studded Cast Expands the Franchise
Falco stars alongside Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and newcomer Oona Chaplin, who portrays Varang, the fierce leader of the Ash People. With Avatar: Fire and Ash now in theaters, Falco’s reflections offer fans a deeper look into the creative passion behind one of cinema’s most ambitious franchises.
