Indigenous Actor Sues James Cameron for 'Stealing' Her Facial Features for Avatar Character
Suit says director used Q’orianka Kilcher’s features without permission after seeing her in advert for The New World
TL;DR
- Q’orianka Kilcher is suing James Cameron and Walt Disney Company.
- The lawsuit alleges that the character Neytiri in the Avatar franchise was based on Kilcher's facial features without her consent.
- Kilcher claims Cameron "extracted her facial features" after seeing her in an LA Times advert for 'The New World'.
- The lawsuit states that Cameron presented Kilcher with a sketch of Neytiri, acknowledging her as an inspiration.
- Kilcher's legal team describes the director's actions as "theft" and "extraction" of biometric identity.
- Kilcher learned of the alleged use of her features after a video of Cameron discussing the inspiration surfaced on social media.