Release Date of Second Avatar Film Pushed Back Past 2018

Reactions to the revelation that James Cameron is working “full tilt boogie” on four more Avatar sequels are bound to be mixed. Still, though Cameron re-affirmed his commitment to the sequels as a “24-7” job in an interview with the Toronto Star, he admitted that the first sequel would not meet the expected 2018 release date: “Well, 2018 is not happening. We haven’t announced a firm release date,” he said. “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.” Comparing the project to the Three Gorges dam, he explained that he would be spending the “next eight years of my life” working on the Avatar sequels.

Sequel cynics will be gratified that Cameron doesn’t seem to be phoning it in on this project. In the interview, he claimed that, “We’re pretty well designed on all our creatures and sets.” Returning star Sigourney Weaver also seems pretty jazzed about the project. In an interview with THR, she reveals, “I’ve read three of the four [sequel’s scripts,] and they’re even more extraordinary than the first one.” Though some might be skeptical that Cameron is capable of writing an extraordinary script, at least the sentiment is right.

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana will also be reprising their roles in the sequels—the only question is when. After all, this isn’t the first time the sequel has been delayed. Stay tuned to Paste for more news on Avatar 2, 3, 4 and 5.