MOVIE NEWS – Each instalment of the Avatar franchise will introduce audiences to completely unexplored territory on Pandora, according to Jon Landau, who also revealed that a fourth instalment is already in the works.

Avatar is still the highest-grossing film of all time, thirteen years after its first release. Directed by James Cameron, the film took audiences to a brand new, original world of Pandora. The beautiful moon is home to abundant creatures, vegetation and different tribes. The Na’vi, or the people of Pandora, are divided into at least 15 clans, each with its own culture and distinct environment. Although Avatar gave us a glimpse of the vast world outside the main characters, Pandora remained largely unexplored after the end credits rolled.

Producer Jon Landau assured audiences that this would be different in the upcoming sequels.

He told Variety that each film would focus on the different cultures and biomes of the giant moon. “With each sequel, we’re going to introduce audiences to new cultures and new biomes,” he explained. “We don’t leave behind the cultures that we’ve met.” It seems that the cast of Avatar films will continue to expand as Cameron seeks to showcase different cultures worldwide while focusing on our main characters.

Landau’s comments come from a screening at the Busan International Film Festival, where the cast of Avatar: The Way of Water talked about the groundbreaking technology of the upcoming sequel. If the film is anything like the last one, we can expect stunning visuals, unlike anything that has come before. The Way of Water is scheduled for release later this year, in US cinemas on 16 December.

Avatar 4 is already in the works

Even though The Way of Water is still months away, producer Jon Landau confirmed to Variety that the first act of Avatar 4 is already complete. “We’ve completed most of the first act of Avatar 4, and there were logistical reasons why we needed to do that,” he explained. “We’ve designed most of the whole movie for Avatar 4, but we haven’t actually filmed all of it – just the first act.”

It’s hard to believe that Avatar is starting to churn out sequels so quickly, but that’s exactly what Cameron wants.

He’s managed to keep audiences interested for the past 13 years, and he doesn’t want to take any chances again. “We could not have delivered what people saw today, five years ago, eight years ago, nine years ago. We needed the time to take it to the level that we’re able to deliver to people today.” Fans can look forward to The Way of Water and possible sequels, as the technology used in the original Avatar was groundbreaking.

When can we expect Avatar sequels?

Avatar: The Way of Water has been a long time coming, but fans won’t have to wait much longer. The sequel, arriving on 16 December, marks the start of the first of four planned sequels to the franchise from the mind of James Cameron. The director said in 2010 that The Way of Water and Avatar 3 would be shot back-to-back, meaning the third film is almost ready to be released. Of course, the films have a tremendous amount of post-production work, where most of the work is taking place.

Avatar 3 is scheduled to be released on 20 December 2024 unless, of course, there are delays.

Part 4 will arrive two years later, with the premiere in cinemas on 18 December 2026. Finally, the fifth and final film in the Avatar franchise will be released on 22 December 2028. However, fans want the second film to hit the big screen before the third, fourth and fifth instalments. Of course, if Avatar: The Way of Water even comes close to the first film’s success, Cameron will no doubt be keen to get the sequels to market quickly.

Source: Variety