If you’re eager for to return to Pandora, you’ll have to wait a little longer. “Avatar” director James Cameron has confirmed the sequel to his 2009 blockbuster won't arrive in 2018 as planned.
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“Well, 2018 is not happening,” he told the Toronto Star. "We haven’t announced a firm release date. 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.”
The filmmaker explained the process is a long-term, full-time commitment. “I know where I’m going to be for the next eight years of my life," he said. "It’s not an unreasonable time frame if you think about it. It took us four-and-a-half years to make one movie and now we’re making four.”
The director was promoting his “Atlantis Rising” documentary, which pairs him with journalist Simcha Jacobovici, and explores the existence of the mythical kingdom that was said to be swallowed by the seas. He is also working on launching the Pandora: World of Avatar attraction at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
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“We’re full-tilt boogie right now,” Cameron added. “This is my day job and pretty soon we’ll be 24-7. We’re pretty well designed on all our creatures and sets. It’s pretty exciting stuff. I wish I could share with the world. But we have to preserve a certain amount of showmanship and we’re going to draw that curtain when the time is right.”
Cameron and Jacobovici’s “Atlantis Rising” premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.