Over the past week or so there has been a great deal of discussion over which project would finally tempt James Cameron (the director of the two highest-grossing movies of all time; first Titanic, and now Avatar), and get him to fully commit to directing again; as it was reported recently that Sony Pictures had been pursuing the legendary director, with plans for him to helm their Cleopatra movie (something he actually expressed interest in, and stated that Sony’s choice of placing the Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie in the lead role would be “hot”); but it has now been confirmed that his next two films will both be sequels to the groundbreaking Avatar.
Jim has spoke numerous times about continuing his sci-fi epic, and always planned to continue the story provided that the first film was successful, stating that “it’s a rare and remarkable opportunity when a filmmaker gets to build a fantasy world, and watch it grow”, and that he “will not back off the throttle of Avatar’s visual and emotional horsepower” as he aims to “continue to explore its themes and characters” in the next two films; with which he aims “to meet and exceed the global audience’s expectations.”
Fox managed to secure the deal to get Avatar 2 and 3 pinned down by making what Cameron himself has described as a “huge” contribution to his environmental green fund, in return for Cameron pulling out of Sony’s fast-tracked Cleopatra (which they hope to release in 2012), and agreeing to begin working on the scripts early next year.
His first Avatar feature surpassed everyone’s expectations, when the film that he toyed with making for well over a decade, sat waiting for him to develop the technology necessary to finally realize his wholly imagined 3D world, went on to top the record set by his previous movie (Titanic) and become the highest-grossing film of all time, win countless awards, earn nine nominations at the Academy Awards (Oscars), and become the fastest selling Blu-ray disc of all time; meaning that all eyes will be on Jim, and the studio, when the next movies go into production, especially as returning producer Jon Landau has said that “Jim only scratched the surface of the stories he wants to tell with the first movie.”
Titles for Avatar 2 and 3 are still to be confirmed (and decided upon), although Cameron has suggested that the next film (at least) will continue the tale of Jake and Neytiri; meaning that Sam Worthington (Clash of the Titans, 2010), and Zoe Saldana (Death at a Funeral, 2010) are both likely to return; and will heavily feature the oceans of Pandora (the fictional world upon which Avatar is set), in a movie that (like the third) will have a “self contained story that also fulfils a greater story arc.”
After James completes work on the scripts; upon which he has stated he will let his “imaginations run wild”; he will then decide if the two movies will be filmed back-to-back, before production begins late next year, and the first sequel is released in December 2014, with Avatar 3 then following in December 2015.
And with those release dates now officially set (in what Fox executives have called “a great day in the history of the company”), Christmases for the next five years look extremely promising; as this year we have the release of Tron, with Shrek spinoff Puss in Boots, and Sherlock Holmes 2, both following next year, The Hobbit movies due for release in 2012 and 2013, and then the follow-ups to the biggest film of all time, in 2014, and 2015, respectively.
