Avatar Sequels officially resuming New Zealand production next week
After two months of production being halted on James Cameron’s Avatar sequels due to the ongoing global pandemic, producer Jon Landau took to Facebook to reveal that the long-in development films are officially set to resume filming next week in New Zealand. His confirmation comes two weeks after the country had released new health and safety protocols that will allow film and TV productions to resume. Landau has also released a brand new behind-the-scenes photo revealing that the films’ massive sets are ready to go for filming!
“Our Avatar sets are ready — and we couldn’t be more excited to be headed back to New Zealand next week.” Landau said in his post. “Check out the Matador, a high speed forward command vessel (bottom) and the Picador jetboat (top) — can’t wait to share more.”
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The cast of the Avatar franchise includes Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Jemaine Clement, and Oona Chaplin alongside a slate of young actors. Returning cast members include Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald, and Sigourney Weaver.
Cameron recently explained that Stephen Lang’s Colonel Miles Quaritch is coming back for all four sequels and will be the main villain throughout the story. Filming officially started on Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 on September 25, 2017.
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After some shuffling of the schedule, Avatar 2 has been pushed back a full year from December 18, 2020, to December 17, 2021. Avatar 3 has been pushed back two years December 17, 2021 to December 22, 2023. Avatar 4 will open two years after that on December 19, 2025 (originally December 20, 2024) and Avatar 5 will drop on December 17, 2027 (originally December 19, 2025). Although Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 will only be released with director James Cameron’s caveat that Avatar 2 and 3 are successful at the box office.
