Jack Champion, the young actor known for his role as Spider in James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” also secretly terrorized audiences as one of the Ghostface killers in the 2023 slasher sequel, “Scream VI.”
A Dual Life: From Pandora to Woodsboro
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In the visually stunning 2022 film “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Champion portrayed Spider, a human boy raised among the Na’vi on the lush planet of Pandora. He was often seen alongside Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), sporting dreadlocks and adapting to the alien world, even requiring a face mask due to Pandora’s unbreathable atmosphere. The film revealed Spider to be the son of Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), leading to a complex choice at the film’s conclusion.
Champion is slated to reprise his role in Cameron’s upcoming 2025 film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Interestingly, Cameron strategically filmed “The Way of Water,” “Fire and Ash,” and even portions of a fourth “Avatar” film concurrently to prevent Champion from aging out of the role.
Early Roles and a Horror Debut
Champion began pursuing acting roles around the age of eight, landing minor parts in blockbuster films like “Avengers: Endgame” as “Kid on a Bicycle” and “Insurgent” as “Abnegation Child.” His breakout role came with the supernatural horror film “The Night Sitter,” where he starred alongside Elyse Dufour, battling accidentally summoned witches.
Following the success of “The Way of Water,” Champion secured roles in the 2023 thriller “Retribution,” featuring Liam Neeson, and, unexpectedly, as a key antagonist in “Scream VI.”
Unmasking the Killer: Champion in “Scream VI”
“Scream VI” followed Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) as she grappled with her lineage as the daughter of Billy Loomis, the original “Scream” killer, while fiercely protecting her sister, Tara (Jenna Ortega). Tara’s college life in New York City, alongside boyfriend Chad (Mason Gooding) and roommate Ethan (Jack Champion), became the backdrop for a new wave of terror.
The film ultimately revealed a trio of Ghostface killers, a series staple. Champion’s character, Ethan, marked the eleventh iteration of the iconic masked villain in the franchise’s history. In a nod to the series’ legacy, Champion’s character met a particularly brutal end, dispatched with a weapon previously used against a past Ghostface.
Champion will not return for the upcoming “Scream VII.” However, he is set to appear in the 2026 film “Don’t Say Good Luck,” alongside Melanie Lynskey, Steve Buscemi, and Bebe Neuwirth.
