For what feels like years, James Cameron has been toiling on the follow-up to the blockbuster “Avatar.” But it’s now that we’re finally getting a good sense of exactly what the sequels will be about. Sitting down with The Hollywood Reporter, Cameron reveals the details about the upcoming films: storylines, characters, and visual effects. The first of these sequels is “Avatar 2,” to be released in December 2023, followed by “Avatar 3” in December 2024 and “Avatar 4” in December 2025. Cameron let slip that the sequels will be set 13 years after the action of the first film, in which Jake Sully and his family are faced with a new, threatening being on the planet Pandora.
“We’re going to see more of the ocean world,” Cameron said. “We’re going to see more of the Na’vi and their connection to the natural world. We’re going to explore more of the mythology of the Pandoran world.” And perhaps one of the largest thrills of the sequels is all centered around new characters being introduced. Cameron himself confirmed that Zare Naza, a young Na’vi warrior, would play a large role in the new story, complete with a casting announcement for Jack Champion in the role. For Champion, despite the franchise being new to him, he has already received high praise from Cameron for his acting talent. “We’ve all been speaking with Jack for a while now,” said Cameron.
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“He’s a phenomenally talented young man, and we can’t wait to see him bring Zare Naza to life.” Cameron also confirmed that Kate Winslet was back and had joined the cast to reprise the role of Neytiri’s mother, Kiri. Winslet’s Kiri, mother to Neytiri, was a Na’vi warrior who, in the course of the first film, helped Jake Sully forge a bond with the tribe. In the sequels, Kiri figures centrally in the storyline, using her experience of the natural world to benefit her family and allies. If this is true, the sequels will even out-build the original movie in terms of visual effects. Cameron has confirmed that Weta Digital will be back to handle the work on visual effects, using new technology to ensure the environments look even more realistic and immersive. “We’re using volumetric capture and motion capture to really bring lifelike performances out of our actors,” Cameron said.
“But we’re also doing as much as we can with CGI to make sure that the environments are as realistic as possible.” The public craves more updates on the sequels, and it waits with bated breath. Promisingly, the sequels themselves will be even greater blockbusters and more visually impressive than the original. Add in Cameron at the helm and an all-star class of original stars returning, and this is one franchise that can’t be missed. Besides sequels, Cameron had also announced plans to make an “Avatar”-themed, land-based attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida. The attraction would let the visitors see the world of Pandora with their own eyes—interactive pavilions, perceptions of floating mountains, boat rides, and much more. “We’re creating an immersive experience that will transport visitors to Pandora,” explained Cameron. “It’s going to be an amazing way for fans to connect with the world of ‘Avatar’ in a whole new way.”
