While most movie directors are content with working on one film at a time and keeping their mind open towards their next project, Canadian James Cameron has other ideas, as he is said to be planning to film three sequels to his 2009 blockbuster 3D release Avatar, with all of them on the same production schedule.
Actress Sigourney Weaver, involved in the first film, seems set to reprise her role in up to three sequels in the near future (despite her character seemingly being killed off in the original), though she has claimed that while Avatar 2, 3 and 4 are likely to be shot at the same time, she was not sure of how long the process would take, saying: “I just show up.”
Cameron had announced his intentions to make several sequels last month, as he said of his plans for the 3D film series and personal ambitions: “I’ve divided my time over the last 16 years over deep ocean exploration and filmmaking. I’ve made two movies in 16 years, and I’ve done eight expeditions. Last year I basically completely disbanded my production company’s development arm. So I’m not interested in developing anything. I’m in the Avatar business. Period. That’s it. I’m making Avatar, Avatar 2, Avatar 3, maybe Avatar 4, and I’m not going to produce other people’s movies for them. I’m not interested in taking scripts.”
The director had also summarised by explaining his environmentalist motivations for focusing almost completely on the franchise from now on: “That all sounds I suppose a little bit restricted, but the point is I think within the Avatar landscape I can say everything I need to say that I think needs to be said, in terms of the state of the world and what I think we need to be doing about it. And doing it in an entertaining way. And anything I can’t say in that area, I want to say through documentaries, which I’m continuing.”
It has already been rumoured that the ‘simultaneous filming’ process (a concept last seen in a major film during the final two-part installment of the Harry Potter franchise) will see the sequels released in consecutive year, but could the swift repetition of releases end up diluting the quality and legacy of the Avatar series, or will it grow into a dynasty?