Moviefone Editorial

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  • The Four ‘Avatar’ Sequels Begin Consecutive Production, Will Cost Over $1 Billion

    If you thought TV shows were getting pricey to produce, just wait until you find out how much Fox is dropping on James Cameron‘s four “Avatar” sequels: The four flicks will reportedly cost $1 billion to make.

    Deadline reports that production has finally begun in California on the long-awaited sequels to 2009’s “Avatar,” the highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide. While plans for the follow-ups have been evolving for years, with release dates and the exact number of sequels changing more times than we can count, Cameron is apparently finally ready to turn his vision into a reality.

    Of course, such lofty vision doesn’t come without an equally lofty price tag, and studio Fox is betting big with a risky shoot that will see all four flicks film back to back to back to back. It’s the first time in history such a consecutive shooting schedule has been employed with four films (Peter Jackson previously held the record with three, for his “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” movies), and according to Deadline, that $1 billion estimate is expected to rise well before the final frame is shot.

    Cameron says he spent two solid years writing the sequel scripts, which returning star Sigourney Weaver praised as “even more amazing” than the first flick. With filming finally underway, it seems that fans will at last be able to judge that for themselves.

    “Avatar 2” is currently slated to open on December 18, 2020, with “Avatar 3” opening on December 17, 2021, “Avatar 4” opening on December 20, 2024, and “Avatar 5” opening on December 19, 2025. We’ll see if Cameron’s high-profile production meets those ever-shifting deadlines.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Signs on to ‘Avatar Sequels’

    2017 Winter TCA - PortraitsNavigating the jungles of Pandora will be a cinch after the wilds of Westeros.

    Oona Chaplin, who played the tragically-killed Talisa Stark in “Game of Thrones,” has signed on to all four sequels to James Cameron’s “Avatar.”

    She’ll play Varang, a “strong and vibrant central character.” Chaplin is the second high-profile new cast member, joining former “Fear the Walking Dead” star Cliff Curtis.

    Chaplin is the granddaughter of legendary screen icon Charlie Chaplin, but has amassed an acting resume of her own. She broke out on “Game of Thrones,” but has also appeared in “The Hour,” “Sherlock,” “Black Mirror,” and most recently opposite Tom Hardy in “Taboo.”

    The plot of the four “Avatar” sequels is being kept under lock and key. We do know that original stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver will all return.

    “Avatar 2” is slated for release Dec. 18, 2020; “Avatar 3” is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2021; “Avatar 4” in December 2024; and “Avatar 5” in 2025.

  • James Cameron Has Finished All 4 ‘Avatar’ Sequel Scripts, Production to Start in August

    Director James Cameron arrives at the prJames Cameron has made many, many promises about the long-gestating sequels to “Avatar” since the 2009 flick went on to become the highest-grossing movie of all time. And as the years have ticked by without another film materializing, it often seemed as though the project would never happen. But now, Cameron has declared that he’s officially done with the scripts for the now-four planned sequels, and has also said that production will finally start later this year.

    Whether or not you choose to believe the filmmaker depends on just how much caution you want to attach to your optimism. Cameron discussed his progress on the follow-up flicks in a recent interview with The Daily Beast, and noted that he’s devoted a significant amount of time and attention to each film, perhaps explaining why it’s taken so long to get these movies off the ground.

    Here’s what he told The Daily Beast:

    ” … My focus is on Avatar 2, 3, 4, and 5 equally. That’s exactly how I’m approaching it. They’ve all been developed equally. I’ve just finished the script to Avatar 5. I’m now starting the process of active prep. I’ll be working with the actors in the capture volume in August, so I’m booked in production every day between now and then. Our volume is up and running, and everything is designed, and so we’re going full-guns right now. I feel like I’ve been let out of jail, because I’ve been in the writing cave for the last two years. I’m actually enjoying life. I don’t enjoy writing. I wouldn’t wish writing on a dog.”

    So perhaps Cameron’s desire to get everything just right is what caused such a massive delay in production. (And his aversion to writing probably played a role, too.) According to star Sigourney Weaver, all the extra time the filmmaker spent on the scripts appears to be worth it. Audiences will hopefully get to be the judge of that themselves soon.

    “Avatar 2,” “Avatar 3,” “Avatar 4,” and “Avatar 5” are currently slated for release around Christmas in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

    [via: The Daily Beast]