Sigourney Weaver's Dr. Grace Augustine didn't make it out of Avatar alive, but James Cameron tells The Hollywood Reporter that something so trivial as that won't stop the actress from appearing in the film's three sequels.

"She's playing a different and in many ways more challenging character in the upcoming films," the director said. "We’re both looking forward to this new creative challenge, the latest chapter in our long and continuing collaboration."

That jibes with what Weaver said last month, when she teased her return for the new films. "I’ll transform somewhat,” she said. “It will be challenging for me. I can’t talk about it, but my part is a little different in each one.”

Weaver joins fellow returning Avatar cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang. Production on the untitled Avatar sequels, which will be filmed back-to-back-to-back. Filming is expected to start later this year so the first sequel can make its proposed December 2016 release.