Since becoming the highest grossing film of all time when it was released, a sequel to director James Cameron's science fiction epic
Avatar has been virtually inevitable. While the second film in the proposed trilogy was initially scheduled for a late 2014 release, producer Jon Landau stated earlier this year that
Avatar 2 reaching that date would be unlikely. Now, speaking with
The New York Times, Cameron offers an update on the sequel.
Talking to the NY Times' reporters, Cameron says that the second film in his planned
Avatar trilogy
"will not be ready until 2015 or later." Cameron is still working on both screenplays and then plans to New Zealand, where he and his family expect to live for at least a year and a half while the
Titanic director shoots his
Avatar sequels. According to Cameron, the sequels will most likely be shot in Peter Jackson's Wellington production studio, while Jackson's nearby WETA Digital visual effects compound will finish the special effects.
Additionally, last month, Cameron teased the possibility of a fourth
Avatar movie (he also said that he likely won't direct any non-
Avatar projects in the near future). A rumor even suggested that all three sequels will be shot simultaneously (which would be a very impressive feat if done right). According to NY Times, Cameron has said that talk about a fourth film "was premature", while not ruling it out either. Many thanks to
The Playlist for the heads up regarding this report.
Not much is known about the possible storyline for
Avatar 2. Cameron has expressed interest in exploring the other moons of Polyphemus and widening the universe; the sequel is said to be focusing on Pandora's ocean (as well as having more of the rain forest setting featured in the original film). Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver are expected to be reprising their roles from the first movie.