Oh yeah, this is still happening. With Marvel, "Justice League" and "Star Wars" gobbling up the franchise headlines in recent weeks and months, it's easy to forget that another mega serires is just waiting around the corner, with James Cameron getting ready to expand his "Avatar" universe. Right now the plan is for two sequels that will likely shoot back-to-back, with the possibility of an "Avatar 4" prequel (though even if it does happen, it won't be part of the "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3" production"). And while "Avatar 2" was initially slated for a December 2014 release, that timeline was bumped back earlier this year, and now it seems we might have some idea of when it will arrive.
Now living on the other side of the world, Cameron recently chatted with The West Australian (via The Film Stage) and revealed where he's at with Pandora. "I want to get these scripts nailed down, I don't want to be writing the movie in post production," the director said, adding he hoped to finish writing in February with lensing to start in late 2013. And he wants all the script work done so he isn't forever tinkering in post-production. "We kind of did that on the first picture, I ended up cutting out a lot of scenes and so on and I don't want to do that again."
Of course, he's eyeing the new fangled 48fps technique that Peter Jackson is bringing to "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," and will take it on if the industry and audiences aprpove. "If there is acceptance of 48, then that will pave the way for 'Avatar' [sequels] to take advantage of it," Cameron said. "We charged out ahead on 3D with 'Avatar,' now Peter's doing it with 'The Hobbit.' It takes that kind of bold move to make change."
No release dates just yet, but with a late 2013 shoot, maybe it'll be a 2015 bow for "Avatar 2"? If so, along with "The Avengers 2" and "Justice League," that will be one mega year for blockbusters.