Actress Q'orianka Kilcher has filed a lawsuit against James Cameron, the director of the blockbuster film Avatar, alleging that he 'extracted' her facial features for a character without permission. The alleged incident occurred when Kilcher was just 14 years old, according to court documents obtained by UKPulse Media.
Kilcher, who is best known for her roles in The New World and The Forest, claims that Cameron used her facial features for the character Neytiri without obtaining her consent. The actress has stated that she was not paid for the use of her likeness and that Cameron's actions were a breach of her rights.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that Cameron's actions were a form of 'theft' and that he profited from the use of Kilcher's facial features without her permission. Kilcher is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent the further use of her likeness.
Jamie Cameron has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but a spokesperson for Cameron's production company has stated that they are 'reviewing the matter'. The lawsuit is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving the use of facial recognition technology and the exploitation of actors' likenesses.
Q'orianka Kilcher's lawsuit has sparked debate about the ownership of facial features and the rights of actors to control their own likenesses. The case is set to be heard in court in the coming months, with Kilcher's lawyers arguing that Cameron's actions were a breach of her rights under California's right of publicity law.
UK viewers can stream Avatar on Sky Cinema, Virgin Media Cinema, and Amazon Prime Video, but the film does not appear to be available on any of the major UK streaming services. The film has won numerous awards, including several Academy Awards and BAFTAs, but Kilcher has not been credited for her work on the film.