AVATAR 2 Director James Cameron Weighs In On The Sequel Possibly Still Making Its 2021 Release Date

AVATAR 2 Director James Cameron Weighs In On The Sequel Possibly Still Making Its 2021 Release Date

Avatar 2 director James Cameron has offered an update on the possibility the sequel will be released on December 17th, 2021 as planned despite shutdowns which come as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By JoshWilding - May 11, 2020 11:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Avatar
Source: Empire Online

We recently heard that work on Avatar 2 could soon resume in New Zealand, and that bodes well for a movie which is shaping up to be one of 2021's biggest releases. However, when director James Cameron was recently asked whether he believes the sequel will still arrive next December as planned, he shared his belief that the delay won't change its release date. 

The interview took place before the aforementioned news about restrictions being lifted in the country, but Cameron noted that things are looking good for Avatar 2 on the basis of how COVID-19 is being tackled in New Zealand.

"New Zealand seems to have been very effective in controlling the virus and their goal is not mitigation, but eradication, which they believe that they can do with aggressive contact tracing and testing," he explained. "So there's a very good chance that our shoot might be delayed a couple of months, but we can still do it. So that's good news."

As for how work has been progressing without cameras rolling, he added: "We've got everybody – everybody at Weta Digital and Lightstorm – working from home to the extent that that is possible. But my work is on the stage doing the virtual cameras and so on, so I can do a bit of editing, but it's not great for me."

It's hard to say when we'll get a first look at Avatar 2, but it's good to know that work has continued, and with productions being given the green light to resume in New Zealand, that delay of "a couple of months" is likely to be quite a bit less. 

As always, stay tuned to CBM for updates!

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BigMikeReviews
BigMikeReviews - 5/11/2020, 11:59 AM
In other news: Avatar 2 pushed back amidst World War 3, 4 and 5 being fought back to back!

I'll be elderly or ashes by the time this movie comes out.
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:16 PM
@BigMikeReviews - Then the day before the planned release
BigMikeReviews
BigMikeReviews - 5/11/2020, 1:35 PM
@dracula - The rapture is going to take away some of Mr Cameron's customers.. he's not going to like that
bcom
bcom - 5/11/2020, 9:45 PM
@dracula - Do you think that Trump will nickname this the "Heaven Virus" while addressing it in press conferences?
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 9:50 PM
@bcom - No, there would be nobody to directly blame, he will call it the christian virus
Timerider84
Timerider84 - 5/11/2020, 12:00 PM
More like he's scared to release his movie in a now jam packed release schedule next year. He won't make his 2 billion plus a picture, he's nervous.
tmp3
tmp3 - 5/11/2020, 12:04 PM
@Timerider84 - This movie's gonna be a monster financially. I don't think Cameron has anything to worry about.
Timerider84
Timerider84 - 5/11/2020, 12:07 PM
@tmp3 - not the same amount of people are going to be going to the theaters after all this. It will not make anywhere close to the first film. Avengers Endgame will stay on top
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:08 PM
@Timerider84 - either way doubt it will make 2 billion. The biggest praise of the first film was the special effects, now any film can look like that if not better
Timerider84
Timerider84 - 5/11/2020, 12:13 PM
@dracula - That's what I'm trying to say. Cameron is hoping to make 2 billion+ per Avatar picture, but that's not going to happen now.
tmp3
tmp3 - 5/11/2020, 12:17 PM
@dracula - Keep doubting Cameron, I guess. Pretty sure Avatar 2 will do a billion in China alone.
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:18 PM
@Timerider84 - I could see them making a billion, lets face it the first film is extremely over rated, but people really love that world, but im expecting less and less profit from each film
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:21 PM
@tmp3 - Eh, ill stop doubting him when he put out something besides Terminator 1 and 2 and Aliens, thats actually worth the hype. People like his stuff thats fine, but seriously Avatar is just Dances with Wolves and Titanic is just your usual romantic drama that people wouldnt care about if it werent for the ship
tmp3
tmp3 - 5/11/2020, 12:28 PM
@dracula - Titanic was a good movie. So were The Abyss and True Lies
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:29 PM
@tmp3 - You already know my opinion on Titanic, ill check out The Abyss and True Lies
amesjazz
amesjazz - 5/11/2020, 12:34 PM
@tmp3 - I'm with you. People for some reason continue to doubt Cameron and he always shuts them all up. This is the guy who made two of the greatest sequels in movie history and he's been working on this movie for over 10 years now? It's seriously going to be incredible. I liked the first one but I'm way more excited to see what happens with the sequel now that the world and characters are established.
GreedoSarducci
GreedoSarducci - 5/11/2020, 6:00 PM
@tmp3 - True Lies is FANTASTIC.
tmp3
tmp3 - 5/11/2020, 12:03 PM
Imma laugh so hard if Avatar 2 is delayed again lmfao
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:07 PM
@tmp3 - been over 10 years, either way not going to make a difference on if people are still interested or not
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 5/11/2020, 12:13 PM
dracula
dracula - 5/11/2020, 12:16 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek -
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 5/11/2020, 12:17 PM
I think the whole "its been 10 years, no one is interested" is a stupid argument.

The first came out, made $70 million opening weekend, then went on to make almost $3 billion.

That is with an opening weekend that, if a comic book movie had that, you'd all be shouting "FLOP".

That is without a built in audience as this was an original picture.

This movie doesn't even need to make $2 billion to be honest. Studios will always trust James Cameron. Hes one of the most consistent directors to exist
tmp3
tmp3 - 5/11/2020, 12:18 PM
@DannRamm113 - Anyone who made T2 and Aliens is worth watching
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 5/11/2020, 12:22 PM
@tmp3 - Lets not forget his Aquaman movie

bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 5/11/2020, 2:53 PM
@DannRamm113 - I think the movie being in cinemas for nearly 8 months also has to do with why it made such numbers. Although that doesn't take away that Cameron is indeed one of the best
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 5/11/2020, 5:58 PM
@DannRamm113 - Cameron’s pictures perform differently than the typical block buster financials. Both Titanic and Avatar began relatively soft financially but maintained or even increased their financial holds week-after-week. This is absolutely unheard of in ANY blockbuster release as they are usually extremely front-loaded opening weekend and then function on both multiplier and ‘Law of 50%’ decline ratios.

Titanic and Avatar both actually increased their weekend yields SEVERAL TIMES, during their domestic runs hence their longstanding theater runs and astronomical cumes. This is almost distinctly unique to Cameron and it is one of the strangest phenomenons in industry performance analysis.
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 5/11/2020, 12:33 PM
L0RDbuckethead
L0RDbuckethead - 5/11/2020, 12:37 PM
It doesn't matter when this movie comes out, it's gonna make a ton of money either way.

Timerider84
Timerider84 - 5/11/2020, 12:40 PM
There will be a lot of films coming out one after another next year, especially toward the end of next year. Avatar 2 will be surrounded by so many movies, that they will lose box office profits. Why you ask? Because there's 5-7 other movies coming out around the same time. They're not going to get that second and third showing from movie-goers. It'll make a billion, but not as much as Cameron is hoping for.
emeraldtaurus
emeraldtaurus - 5/11/2020, 12:43 PM
Cameron is one of the greats......no doubt about it. Thing is ...will Avatar still be relevant but the time the first sequel is released ?? I just cant see it making the same money as the first. Let's not forget ..the first one was such a big deal because of the 3D...which is old news now. Let's hope Cameron has a fantastic story and the cgi is alot better.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 5/11/2020, 2:57 PM
I really am confused by this movie. Is it a sequel just because the first one did so good? Does Cameron have a reason to continue the (pretty weak) story of the first? Is it made to show of cutting edge technology? Is it an attempt at franchise building? Is it made to make money? And if so, should it be delayed because too much competition? Or will it crush the competition no matter what?
GreedoSarducci
GreedoSarducci - 5/11/2020, 6:02 PM
@MalseMarcel - yes
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