Never bet againstJames Cameron. This much we know to be true. Whether it’s aTerminatorsequel or a massively expensive epic calledTitanic, Cameron consistently blows past naysayers to craft wildly popular films, and of course he’s the director behind the two highest grossing movies ever made. But it’s hard not to be skeptical about Cameron’s plan for makingan additional fourAvatarsequels. Not only are we nearly 10 years out from Cameron’s technologically groundbreaking original, but there aren’t exactly legions ofAvatarfans the way that, say,Star WarsorIndiana Jonespermeated the zeitgeist.
Cameron’s plans for the sequels have changed over the last eight years, but the current plan is this: four additional sequels which will shoot in two blocks, withAvatar 2and3hitting theaters on August 02, 2025 and July 17, 2025 and thenAvatar 4and5opening June 23, 2025 and August 22, 2025. With Pandora now finally open at Walt Disney World, it sounds like production isfinallyabout to get underway, andSigourney WeavertellsEWthat having read all four sequels, there’s no reason to doubt Cameron now:
“There’s a very good reason why it turned out to be four sequels. Having reread all four of them, I think they’re absolutely extraordinary and worth the wait.”
Weaver says she starts working on the sequels this summer:
“I love the way we’re doing them, we’re kind of doing 2 and 3 simultaneously and it’s going to work very well. A lot of the heavy lifting has already been done in 1, opening up the world and the characters and everything and I think that Jim has had a wonderful time writing these four, and it’s going to be very exciting bringing them to life.”
The actress is remaining mum about how, exactly, she’s returning since her character died in the first movie, but she does reveal that the sequels further the themes of environmentalism and corporatism gone awry from the first movie:
“These films are very much about the peril of this beautiful planet, and [Cameron] is continuing the same themes of greed and callousness of the corporations and plight of the indigenous people. At this point after a long and very satisfying career — I can’t believe it’s been 40 years, but anyway — I’m very excited to be able to work on these four stories.” She laughs. “I can really, really appreciate it.”
More Unobtainium! In all seriousness, as easy as it is to deride these sequels, Iamreally curious to see what Cameron puts together. Again, it’s been nearly a decade since the first movie, so whatever kind of technological magic trick he has up his sleeve this time is likely noteworthy. And I do think it’s smarter of 20th Century Fox to shoot the sequels in two blocks rather than all at once, so Cameron can adjust as needed once the first and second sequels get in front of audiences.
What say you, folks? Are you excited for moreAvatar? Sound off in the comments below.
