Following the massive box office success of 1997's Titanic, its writer, producer and director James Cameron, best known for birthing the Terminator and Avatar franchises and creating one of Hollywood's better sequels with 1986's Aliens, found himself in an unique position. Being mega-rich from the Titanic's profits the visionary film maker no longer needed to make movies for a living.
After an extended holiday period exploring his love of the oceans and deep sea exploration the Academy Award winning director teamed up with 20th Century Fox to create what would become 2009's Avatar. The movie first began its development back in 2006 when Cameron fleshed out the Culture of the Navi, an alien species he had first envisioned back in 1994. Using cutting edge computer visual effects and performance capture techniques it then took three years for Cameron to bring Avatar to the big screen.
It is no surprise then, considering his unique financial situation that Cameron is choosing to make the films he wants, when he wants. This, and the development of new technologies needed for him to realise his vision for the sequels is why after 7 years we are still awaiting the much publicized Avatar 2 which was originally meant to be released in 2014. Reportedly principal photography is scheduled to begin this month in New Zealand.
So long has the gestation period for the sequel been that it has grown into numerous planned instalments, which have now extended into an amazing four sequels. Appearing at the 20th Century Fox panel at this years Cinemacon the Canadian director announced his future plans for his beloved franchise while showcasing some concept art and the franchises new logo...
"We've decided to embark on a truly massive cinematic process. We've begun to bump up against the limitation of our art form. There's just too much story. I've been working with the top four screenwriters and designers in the world to design the world of Avatar going forward. The environments, new cultures - whatever it takes to bring it to life. From what 'm seeing of the art on the wall, in pure imagination is just beyond the first film. I'm speechless."
"Each one of the sequels stands alone but together form a complete saga. A true epic saga told in this rich complex world."
"So together, we're going to continue to make this industry the greatest show on earth. That's what we do,"
From what Cameron is saying it seems as though he too has been bitten by the cinematic universe bug, with these planned four sequels likely to be told from the perspective of different sets of characters across the planet of Pandora.
Avatar 2 is still set for a December 2018 release, with Avatars 3, 4 and 5 coming in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, unless Cameron again delays the sequels and/or adds yet more instalments to his saga, which until the sequel releases, remains composed of one, single movie.
James Cameron's next entry in the groundbreaking Avatar film series, Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theaters December 19th, 2025! Follow our Avatar News Blog for the latest updates on news, images and movie trailers!
