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Cameron on Avatar Sequels

James Cameron talks 3-story arc for Avatar sequels.

By Jarrod Sarafin     June 22, 2011
Source: Fox News


On the set of AVATAR, writer-director James Cameron (front, center) reviews a scene with actors (from left) Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore and Sam Worthington.
© Mark Fellman/Fox

James Cameron has once again confirmed that the next two Avatar films will be shot in back-to-back style. While being honored for his philanthropic work in helping homeless kids across the globe, Fox News caught up with the helmer to discuss the current status of his plans to return to Pandora. For his part, the director said that he's currently scripting out the two sequels to fulfill a 3-film story arc on a certain character. He did make sure not to call it a trilogy, leaving the door open for more adventures after parts 2 and 3.

"We're shooting two films back-to-back, so I'm writing two scripts, not one, which will complete a [three]-film story arc – not really a trilogy, but just an overall character arc so I'm pretty excited about that," he said. "We're doing a lot of preliminary work right now on new software and new animation techniques and so on. We're creating a new facility in Manhattan Beach so everybody that's not already dead is coming back."

With the sequel reportedly dealing largely around Cameron's beloved ocean settings (of Pandora), the director, his production company and 20th Century Fox signed a lease for studio and office space at MBS Media Campus in Manhattan Beach and will use the facility for the motion capture photography and high-tech production.

He also discussed the pressure that comes with trying to follow-up on a film which became the highest-grossing release of all-time.

"There's always an expectation. I had to deal with that after 'The Terminator' back in 1984. All of a sudden I had a big hit movie and it was 'what are you doing next?' But my job is take the audience on a journey and entertain them," he added. "The second I am sitting down writing, I just go to Pandora. I don't think about that stuff, about standing on a red carpet. It has its own life, really. The characters have their own lives."

Avatar 2 is scheduled for theaters December 2014.

Avatar 3 is scheduled for theaters December 2015.


 

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

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paradigm 6/22/2011 7:42:34 AM

James Cameron may not consider it a trilogy, but I can almost guarantee that it's going to be billed as one, especially when the third film hits DVD and Blu-ray (well, if DVD is even still around by the time the third film hits store shelves in 2016). I can see it now: "Bring the epic saga home. Own the trilogy today!"

wish 6/22/2011 8:20:28 AM

if blu ray is around too!  digital media is going post-physical, that cant be stopped, i hardly buy anything on physical format anymore!

To hell with Pandora, here's what I wanna see from Cameron:  another terminator series, another aliens movie, a sequel to true lies and a prequel to titanic.

maybe another deep-sea doc or send him into space with a 3D camera.

Avatar was his chinese democracy, a long wait for mediocre result, it's the only one of his films that I haven't watched more than once, even titanic got a second viewing.

violator14 6/22/2011 8:43:58 AM

I can't wait to see it!! Im sure the 3D tech and CGI are gonna be even better than the first one.

Tashiro 6/22/2011 8:47:09 AM

 The Terminator franchise crash and burned.  Sarah Conner Chronicles was awesome, one of the best series on television, and a true successor to T1 and T2.  After T2, the movie franchise bombed, and I hate that SCC got cancelled.

Alien, again, seemed to bomb after A2.  A3 was a disappointment, and A4 got post-productioned to death (apparently, the raw script was more complete).  The prequel to Alien has been turned into its own thing, so we'll see how that goes.

True Lies doesn't need a sequel, and the idea of a prequel to Titanic boggles the mind.  Avatar 2 and 3 has my curiosity, but that's because I'm more interested in culture / world building - the couch anthropologist in me wants to see more of Pandora.

spiderhero 6/22/2011 8:47:51 AM

Maybe the story won't be so 2D in the sequeals. Maybe.

krathwardroid 6/22/2011 9:01:10 AM

I'm eager to go back to Pandora. Most people should lighten up on a movie that they helped turn into the highest grossing film of all time. I like the Na'vi and I like their planet and I can't wait to go back. ;)

I'd like to see a sequel to True Lies just to see what happened to Harry and Helen Tasker in their spy marriage. Maybe Eliza Dushku got in on the family business, too. True Lies has the potential to go anywhere. It was like a cleaner Duke Nukem tale. It didn't really take itself that seriously, even though it had serious enemies. 

If Jim directed a new Aliens movie, I'd watch it. If he directed a new Terminator movie, I'd watch it. I still say he ought to direct an entry in the Predator franchise. 

A prequel to Titanic. That sounds funny. You know that movie wasn't meant to have prequels and sequels. :P

monkeyfoot 6/22/2011 9:04:22 AM

I'm wating for Avatar 4: the Holographic Experience. I'm clearing space in my living room for new entertainment system we'll all have to buy.

EagleManiac 6/22/2011 9:20:02 AM

Oh NO! Please!!! No more Avatar CRAPOLA!!! That is truly one of the worst big budget films ever made. Stupid plot, cliched script, bad acting, and predicatble story! And the visuals got old after a while. I personally HATE that movie, and would rather sit through TDK for a week straight before I EVER watch Crapatar ever again, and you all KNOW what I thought of TDK!!!

shac2846 6/22/2011 9:33:58 AM

 Well for people who are fans I have to tell you that the idea of Ocean and underwater stories is beyond cool. I just got back from Bermuda a week ago (also stopped in NY on the way home and caught Spider-Man musical, was damn good, don't know what the bitching is about on that) and while I was there the wife and I went helmet diving in coral reef and it was one of the coolest damn things I've ever done. My wife and I both enjoyed Avatar and have been keeping up with the sequel news and the only thing we could think was how awesome this flick is going to be with the underwater stuff in 3d. I mean seriously, I understand now what Cameron's obsession with underwater material is. It was just a whole different world down their. And from what it sounds like their doing photography of the great coral reef and barrier reef, once their manipulated for the world of Avatar this will likely be mind blowing in 3d. 

For all the haters, if you don't like Avatar you don't like it, I ain't gonna' try and sell you but Cameron is known for making sequels better than the originals. Hell that was practically his calling card at one time.

Wish Ridley Scott is working on a kind of prequel to Alien, I think it sounds awesome I guess we'll have to see but it sounds like it might jump start the franchise into new territory and bring it much needed new life. And sadly terminator is dead. Under Cameron it had a great and genre defining run but it's over now. If he wasn't doing Avatar he should kick Battle Angel into high gear. 

momitchell7 6/22/2011 9:50:25 AM

All hail King Cameron! To all of the hating detractors - Off with their heads!!!

Seriously, if you HATED Avatar and TDK, I'm real curious to know why you'd waste any time (and yes, we're all "wasting" time here) trolling a genre site.

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