James Cameron: ‘Avatar 2’ Will No Longer Be Released In 2018

When James Cameron‘s Avatar hit theaters in 2009, audiences were awestruck at the huge leap in technology and visual effects that was presented on the big screen. The use of 3D and the immersive nature of Pandora has influenced the entire filmmaking industry and modern blockbuster moviegoing over this decade.

But the road in starting production for the upcoming sequel(s) has been turbulent to say the least. Although it seemed like production would finally start this year, it appears that the film will not make its 2018 release. Cameron recently spoke to thestar.com, where he was asked about the status of the upcoming sequels:

Well, 2018 is not happening. We haven’t announced a firm release date. What people have to understand is that this is a cadence of releases. So we’re not making Avatar 2. We’re making Avatar 2, 3, 4 and 5. It’s an epic undertaking. It’s not unlike building the Three Gorges dam. (Laughs) So I know where I’m going to be for the next eight years of my life. It’s not an unreasonable time frame if you think about it. It took us four-and-a-half years to make one movie and now we’re making four. We’re full tilt boogie right now. This is my day job and pretty soon we’ll be 24-7. We’re pretty well designed on all our creatures and sets. It’s pretty exciting stuff. I wish I could share with the world. But we have to preserve a certain amount of showmanship and we’re going to draw that curtain when the time is right.

At this point, the only thing that Avatar fans can remain insured for excitement is Pandora: The World of Avatar, which will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Audiences and cinema lovers should have nothing but admiration for what Cameron has accomplished as a filmmaker. For decades, he has pushed the envelope in innovating technology that has changed both the industry and moviegoing as a whole.

But although his accomplishments deserve universal praise, one cannot help but feel frustrated with how long it is taking for him to get started on these Avatar sequels. By the time the first sequel is released in theaters, an entire decade will have passed since the first one. Even though Avatar remains the highest grossing film of all-time, the hunger for these new sequels doesn’t seem to be that high.

Perhaps the opening of the new theme park attractions will ignite excitement for this franchise, but as of right now,  Avatar 2 remains elusive. What do you guys think of this news? Do you think Avatar 2 as well as the three follow-up films will come into fruition at all? Sound off in the comments below.

Source:  thestar.com