Fans have had to wait nearly 13 years for the three-hour Avatar: The Way of Water to finally hit theaters–but one of the wilder numbers associated with the epic sequel is that star Kate Winslet famously spent a record-making seven minutes and 15 seconds underwater in its filming. Speaking to Total Film, Winslet shared her reaction to inadvertently setting a record in the course of production.
“I have the video of me surfacing saying, ‘Am I dead, have I died?’ And then going, ‘What was [my time]?'” Winslet said. “Straight away I wanted to know my time. And I couldn’t believe it… The next thing I say is, ‘We need to radio set.’ I wanted Jim to know right away.”
Winslet elaborated that she “didn’t have to” hold her breath for that amount of time, but “the opportunity to set a record presented itself. I wanted to break my own record, which was already six minutes and 14 seconds.” Writer-director James Cameron added that Winslet “is not competitive at all.”
The Way Of Water finds the Sully family on the run from the colonial forces of the Sky People yet again, seeking shelter with a reef-based tribe of Na’vi where Winslet’s character acts as a matriarch. Alongside Winslet, the sequel stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang. Avatar: The Way of Water hits theaters on December 16.
In GameSpot’s review, Mason Downey thought the film has incredibly beautiful shots, but fails to live up to its legacy as a bleeding edge spectacle. You can check out our review roundup for the movie over here.
The sequel is one of five further planned films in the franchise.
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