It was 2009 when 'Avatar' arrived in cinemas, the escape to the magic world of Pandora where some blue creatures were the main characters. James Cameron managed to stun millions of viewers who came in their masses to cinemas to see what was to become the latest success of the seventh art. If one thing was for sure, it was that the studio producer was not going to let slip the opportunity to make the most of the movie's potential. So, after many alterations in the date of when 'Avatar 2' will be released, it could have finally been revealed.
Although the sequel was planned to be released in 2013, years have been passing by and the only thing that has been known is the constant delays to the release date. However, it seems, 20th Century Fox have made diverse changes to their calendar, one of these changes being a James Cameron project which seems to point towards the long awaited sequel. 'Avatar 2' should be arriving to cinemas by 21st December 2018, taking advantage of the pull of the Christmas season, as well as the initial success of the first film, to make it into yet another showstopper.
We don't know much of the Na'vi's next adventures, but was has been confirmed is that Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang will return to Pandora. 'Avatar 3', 'Avatar 4' and 'Avatar 5' have a preset release date that, if they don't suffer the amount of changing around as the second movie, they should be released in 2020, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
More changes for Fox
The studio has stated that diverse changes are in place for their next releases. Alongside 'Avatar 2' are two Marvel films whose names are still unknown but are estimated for 2nd November 2018 and 14th February 2019. However, these aren't the only ones, as a joint production with the superheroes studio and 20th Century Fox, that is not actually known, which was planned for 6th October 2017 has been cancelled.
What do we actually know about 'Avatar 2'?
1 Premiere
As we know, there is no properly confirmed data for the release of the sequel, but everything seems to be pointing towards sometime in December 2018. The likelihood would be it being a date fairly close to Christmas. In 2009, 'Avatar' came out 18th December. What we are waiting to see now is whether the numerous delays that the production of 'Avatar 2' has suffered will push it further back maybe even into 2019.
2 Director and Scriptwriter
The 'Avatar' saga is James Cameron's right arm. As such, the idea to let someone else direct 'Avatar 2' didn't even pass through his mind. In relation to the script, the director has promised that both this and the future sequels will be much more rich in detail than the original 'Avatar'. "I have been working with a team of four big script writes for a couple of years now to help develop the world of 'Avatar': the characters, the creatures, the environment, newer creatures. It's going to be an amazing saga". The four scriptwriters that Cameron mentions are Josh Friedman, who was in charge of the screenplay for Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds', Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver from 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' and Shane Salerno from 'Armageddon'.
3Who's returning?
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang will return with good reason to 'Avatar 2'. In the case of the first two it is understandable, Jake Sully and Neytiri are the protagonists from the first film. For Weaver and Lang, it is a little more strange, taking into account that both of them died in the first film. Weaver did explain a few years ago that she is "not going to be the same character". With regards to Lang, 20th Century Fox have confirmed he will return to play Colonel Miles Quaritch, without revealing how it is possible.
4 The Storyline
With all the rewrites that have happened with the script of 'Avatar 2', it is possible that nobody can explain how it's come to this, but here we are. Numerous sources say that it will take place years after the events of the first film, with Sully as the leader of the clan and Neytiri as the woman priest. It's been said that even some of the action could occur under water. Although nothing is certain, the only thing we can hold onto now are Cameron's words of how it will include themes such as "family and imprisonment". If this wasn't enough, the director has assured that "you will poo yourself with your mouth open". Thanks James.
5 What is to come
December 2018 will be the very important date for the 'Avatar' saga thanks to the release of the second film, but this is only the start. Two years later 'Avatar 3' will be released also in December, as well as 'Avatar 4' in this case in 2022. There is still no clear release date for 'Avatar 5' but the saga could be finished by 2023.