Why is Toruk not in Avatar 2?

Recapping Toruk Makto‘s Heroic Role in Avatar

In the epic climax of the first film, Jake Sully bond with and rides Toruk – a mighty leonopteryx and apex aerial predator of Pandora. This earned Jake the legendary title of "Toruk Makto" – rider of Last Shadow. As stated by Neytiri: "Toruk Macto, ride the last shadow. For he has bonded with the mighty Toruk, the ikran all Na‘vi aspire to ride. Toruk Macto freed us."

This marked only the 6th Na‘vi in history to accomplish this feat. As Toruk Makto, Jake turned the tide against the militant human RDA forces and secured freedom for the Na‘vi. This demonstrates how in times of "great sorrow", a Toruk Makto who can ride Toruk emerges as a mythical savior.

Table 1: Significance of Jake Becoming Toruk Makto

Figure 1: Jake riding Toruk into battle

So in many ways, Toruk was a key part of what allowed Jake to rally the Na‘vi and defeat the existential threat they faced. It cemented his role as their prophesized leader and hero in a time of crisis.

Jake‘s Eventual Release Back into the Wilds of Pandora

Given Toruk‘s wild and untameable nature, Jake could not permanently keep such a powerful creature merely as a mount. As seen when he first attempted to ride it, Toruk entered a fierce struggle testing Jake‘s resolve and courage before finally submitting.

So despite their temporary bond against a shared enemy, Jake respected Toruk too much to try fully dominating it. After prevailing against the humans, Jake wisely released Toruk to return to its natural habitat rather than selfishly keeping it confined. This demonstrated Jake‘s growth into a worthy Toruk Macto – heroically riding Toruk when desperately needed, but selflessly letting it go once achieving victory.

Quote from Director James Cameron: "We assume Jake released Toruk back to the wilds of Pandora after becoming clan leader. Toruk is not meant to be tamed – merely bonded with out of necessity before returning to its rightful place ruling the skies."

Why Filmmakers Felt Toruk Didn‘t Fit in Avatar 2‘s Story

So when it came to the sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, set over a decade later, the filmmakers consciously chose not to include Toruk. Some reasons stated by Cameron:

1. The new story focuses on the next generation (Jake‘s family) rather than revisiting the old cast.
2. Thematic shift away from warring conflict toward trying to find harmony with nature and water.
3. Didn‘t want fan service cameos distracting from core narrative.

Essentially Toruk already served its purpose for Jake‘s hero‘s arc in first film. So organically weaving it back in may have felt contrived or regressive rather than propelling the story forward.

My Theories on Where Toruk Could Be Within Pandora‘s Rich Ecosystem

While not featured in Avatar 2, we can speculate where Toruk might reside within the world of Pandora:

Lone Predator or Leading a New Flock

With Toruk‘s unmatched aerial prowess and ferocity, it likely claimed a vast territory to rule over after being freed. Whether as a lone hunter or leader of a new flock of ikran, Toruk surely dominates whichever region of Pandora it inhabits.

Migratory Patterns Across Pandora‘s Diverse Regions

Given Toruk‘s ability to thrive in multiple environments like mountains, sea cliffs and dense jungle, it may migrate across vast distances depending on seasonal cycles. Few predators could challenge it in any region.

Possible Symbolic Cameo

While not part of the main story, we may glimpse Toruk in the backdrop soaring past mountain peaks or through the lush bioluminescent foliage, reminding us of its presence still on Pandora. Just a fleeting cameo to allude back to its mythic role in the first film.

Table 2: Theorized Whereabouts of Toruk Post-Avatar

What Toruk Embodied – And Why It May Not Return

In essence, Toruk symbolized two key themes:

1. Savior in a Time of Crisis – Its rider emerges to lead the Na‘vi to salvation (Jake rallying forces against RDA).

2. Domination of Pandora‘s Creatures – Showcasing most skilled warrior by bonding with mightiest mount (Jake proving his merit to Neytiri).

With Avatar 2 shifting focus more toward developing sustainable coexistence on Pandora, rather than warring domination, bringing back such an aggressively powerful creature may not suit that vision.

And with no equivalent external threat in the sequel plot, there is no narrative need for a "mighty Toruk Makto hero" figure to vanquish human invaders this time. So organically revival of that symbolic role from the first film may have felt largely unnecessary or distracting.

Table 3: Contrasting Themes – Avatar vs. Avatar 2

How Toruk‘s Absence Impacts the Sequel‘s Story Scope

Clearly Toruk‘s absence streamlines the sequel‘s plot – allowing focus on new characters and direct threats rather than reviving past figures for fanfare. It signals a tonal shift away from Jake‘s external conflicts toward inner personal growth for him and his family.

And not relying on such an outsized dominant force like Toruk to solve climax challenges allows for more grounded stakes centered on the heroes‘ own resolve. Jake riding Toruk already capped his first iconic hero‘s arc – so passing the story baton to next generation makes sense.

That said, surely many fans will still miss seeing glorious return of so legendary a creature! We must resign to cameos at most.

The Bottom Line

In the end, Toruk‘s purpose was already fulfilled in Avatar. While its mighty legacy remains, Avatar 2 seems focused on writing a new legend not beholden to repeating every past icon. By narrowing scope yet elevating intimacy, the sequel promises a fresh new adventure anchored in the relationships between characters we love.