Actress sues Cameron, Disney over ‘Avatar’ likeness

Actress Q'orianka Kilcher has filed a lawsuit against director James Cameron and Disney, alleging her facial features were used — without consent or compensation — to create Neytiri, the iconic blue warrior princess in the Avatar franchise. Kilcher claims a teenage photo of her was used for the foundation of the character's design, and that Cameron references her in a 2024 interview and “points to an image of Neytiri and says unambiguously: This is actually her lower face.” Kilcher is seeking a share of the franchise's profits “commensurate with the exploitation.”