Jack Champion Explained

Jack Champion
Birth Date:16 November 2004[1]
Nationality:American
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2015–present

Jack Champion (born November 16, 2004) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Spider, a human teenager living on Pandora, who first appeared in (2022).[2] He also played Ethan Landry in the slasher film Scream VI (2023).

Life and career

Champion was born in November 2004 and is a native of Blacksburg, Virginia.[1] He was raised by his mother, a microbiologist.[1] He has credited her for encouraging his interest in acting.[3] He began acting at age eight, starting in school theatre and eventually began working in short films.[1] [3] In 2015, he had a small role in the documentary series American Genius.[4]

In 2017, Champion booked a screen test to join the cast of James Cameron's science fiction film .[5] Before he was cast in the role, he filmed a small part in the superhero film (2019).[5] He also had a leading role in the horror film The Night Sitter (2018).[6] Champion booked his part in Avatar at age 12, after four months of extensive auditions.[7] He was cast as Spider, a human teenager living amongst Na'vis on Pandora.[8] [9] [10] The nature of Champion's role meant that he had to film all his scenes twice;[11] his work involved two years of performance capture on a soundstage, followed by two and a half years of filming the same scenes in live-action in New Zealand.[5] To maintain a muscular physique over the duration of filming, as his character appears shirtless throughout the film, he exercised extensively with a personal trainer and consumed a high-protein diet. He also learned freediving and scuba diving for scenes that were filmed underwater.[12] After five years of production, the film was released in 2022, after Champion turned 18.[7] It earned over $2 billion worldwide, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time.[13] Champion concurrently shot for the sequel, , which will release in 2025, and portions of Avatar 4, which will release in 2029. This was primarily done so that Champion would not age out of his role.[14] [15] [16]

In 2023, Champion appeared alongside an ensemble cast in the slasher film Scream VI, playing the part of Ethan Landry.[17] In contrast to his experience of working on Avatar, he described filming Scream VI as a "really fun summer vacation".[3] He then played the son of star Liam Neeson's character in the action thriller Retribution, a remake of the 2015 Spanish film of the same name.[18] Champion next appeared alongside an ensemble cast in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's 1980s-set action drama film Freaky Tales, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[19]

Champion will next star in the family drama Everything's Going to Be Great and in the action thriller Trap House.[20] [21]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Abnegation ChildUncredited
2015, 2016Legends & LiesJesse James Jr. / Group of boys2 episodes
2015American GeniusKid BlinkEpisode: "Hearst vs. Pulitzer"
Under the DomeAiden TildenEpisode: "Redux"
2018The Night SitterKevin
2019Kid on Bike
2022Miles "Spider" Socorro
2023Scream VIEthan Landry
RetributionZach Turner
2024Freaky TalesLucid
2025Miles "Spider" SocorroPost-production
2029Miles "Spider" SocorroFilming
Post-production
Post-production

Notes and References

  1. News: Sproull . Patrick . March 14, 2023 . Jack Champion is the Scream franchise's next teen idol . March 15, 2023 . . March 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230315062617/https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/g5yxk9/jack-champion-interview . live .
  2. News: Rana . Erica . December 30, 2022 . Jack Champion . January 19, 2023 . Wonderland . January 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230120053830/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/12/30/jack-champion/ . live .
  3. News: Johnson . Benji . Interview: Jack Champion . March 12, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . . April 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420064314/https://manabouttown.tv/blogs/words-and-images/interview-jack-champion . live .
  4. News: Gilchrist . Todd . January 27, 2023 . 'Avatar: The Way of Water' Star Jack Champion Talks Being 'Half Naked' as Pandora's Tarzan . January 27, 2023 . Variety . January 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129171542/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/avatar-way-of-water-jack-champion-spider-1235503988/ . live .
  5. Lawrence . Derek . December 21, 2022 . Avatar: The Way of Water Breakout Jack Champion Is Prepared for You to Love and Hate Spider . January 19, 2023 . Vanity Fair . January 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119185450/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/12/avatar-the-way-of-water-jack-champion-spider-interview . live .
  6. Web site: 'The Night Sitter' Trailer: A Home Invasion Movie Dripping With Style. Pearson. Ben. January 5, 2018. Slash Film. March 29, 2018. May 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508053529/https://www.slashfilm.com/the-night-sitter-trailer/. live.
  7. News: Odman . Sydney . December 16, 2022 . Next Big Thing: Jack Champion, Who Spent His Entire Teens Filming 'Avatar: The Way of Water,' Says James Cameron Became a Father Figure . January 19, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . December 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221224223347/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/jack-champion-interview-avatar-the-way-of-water-james-cameron-1235282851/ . live .
  8. Web site: December 20, 2021 . New 'Avatar 2' Photo Introduces Spider, a Human Adopted by Jake and Neytiri . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211220221914/https://collider.com/avatar-2-image-spider/ . December 20, 2021 . December 21, 2021 . Collider.
  9. Web site: Matt . Goldberg . 'Avatar' Sequels Reveal First Look at the Young Cast . . September 27, 2017 . September 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170928055739/http://collider.com/avatar-sequels-cast-images/#cast . September 28, 2017.
  10. James . Hibberd . Avatar 2: First look at sequel's next generation cast . . September 27, 2017 . September 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170927182529/http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/27/avatar-2-first-look/ . September 27, 2017.
  11. News: Shanfeld . Ethan . January 19, 2023 . 'Avatar: The Way of Water' Spider Scenes Had to Be Filmed Twice, Two Years Apart . January 20, 2023 . Variety . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202183818/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/avatar-2-way-of-water-spider-scenes-filmed-twice-1235495193/ . live .
  12. News: Rosa . Christian . December 15, 2022 . The Real-Life Diet of Jack Champion, Who Ate "Protein, Protein, Protein" to Get in Shape for Avatar . January 19, 2023 . GQ . January 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230123123556/https://www.gq.com/story/avatar-jack-champion-real-life-diet . live .
  13. Web site: Dellatto . Marisa . 'Avatar: The Way Of Water' Surpasses 'Titanic' As Third Highest-Grossing Movie Ever . February 23, 2023 . Forbes . en . February 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223120248/https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/02/19/avatar-the-way-of-water-surpasses-titanic-as-third-highest-grossing-movie-ever/ . live .
  14. News: Sharf . Zack . December 21, 2021 . James Cameron Didn't Want 'Avatar' Teen Actors to Age Like the 'Stranger Things' Kids: High Schoolers 'That Look Like They're 27′ . January 19, 2023 . Variety . January 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119182056/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/james-cameron-avatar-2-kids-stranger-things-aging-1235467199/ . live .
  15. News: Davids . Brian . December 20, 2022 . Avatar: The Way of Water' Star Jack Champion Talks Spider's Surprising Choice and the "Hard Left Turn" of 'Avatar 3' . January 19, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . December 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221071752/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/avatar-3-hard-left-turn-jack-champion-1235285646/ . live .
  16. Web site: Chitwood . Adam . June 13, 2023 . Avatar 3 Delayed a Year to 2025, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 Pushed . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613154648/https://www.thewrap.com/avatar-3-release-date-delayed-avatar-4-avatar-5-2031/ . June 13, 2023 . June 13, 2023 . TheWrap.
  17. Web site: Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda and Josh Segarra Join Next Scream Pic For Spyglass And Paramount . Deadline Hollywood . Justin . Kroll . June 16, 2022 . June 16, 2022 . June 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220616210424/https://deadline.com/2022/06/jack-champion-liana-liberato-devyn-nekoda-josh-segarra-scream-pic-1235047001/ . live .
  18. Web site: Anthony D'Alessandro. Studiocanal Liam Neeson Thriller 'Retribution' Adds Jack Champion & Lilly Aspell. May 24, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. August 4, 2021. November 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221129122144/https://deadline.com/2021/05/liam-neeson-thriller-retribution-adds-jack-champion-lilly-aspell-1234763392/. live.
  19. News: Rooney . David . 'Freaky Tales' Review: Pedro Pascal and Ben Mendelsohn in an Electrifying Salute to Late '80s Oakland Pop Culture That's Hella Fun . The Hollywood Reporter . January 18, 2024 . January 18, 2024 .
  20. News: Vlessing, Etan. Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney Board Drama 'Everything's Going to Be Great'. April 20, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. April 25, 2023. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424184942/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bryan-cranston-allison-janney-everythings-going-to-be-great-1235398682/. live.
  21. News: Vlessing. Etan. Jack Champion, Bobby Cannavale, Sophia Lillis Join Dave Bautista in 'Trap House' Thriller. The Hollywood Reporter. April 1, 2024. April 1, 2024.