“Avatar: The Way of Water” cost $400 million to make, and turned out to be last year’s most profitable movie grossing $2.3 billion. In addition, it placed Cameron as the only filmmaker in history to have three movies among the top 20 highest-grossing of all time, let alone the top 10.
‘The Way of Water’ was seen a major risk by many in the industry, but Cameron proved them wrong, again. The result is that we’re going to get three more ‘Avatar’ movies, released in the next five years. ‘Avatar 3’ in December 2024 to December 2025. Additionally, ‘Avatar 4’ will hit theaters in December 2029, followed by ‘Avatar 5’ in December 2031.
Why such a big gap between 3 and 4? Because James Cameron shot 2 and 3 back-to-back and hasn’t filmed 4 and 5 yet. If the second one had failed, then they were going to end after 3, but it didn’t. Cameron will be 76 by the time time the fifth Avatar is released in theaters. He’s going to be making ‘Avatar’ movies for the rest of his life.
So, what’s the status of ‘Avatar 3’? Production on the film wrapped in December 2020 and it’s been in post ever since.
Speaking at an industry conference in New Zealand, Cameron gave an update on the status of the film and it turns out that there’s still a “very hectic 2 years of post-production” left before it’s in the can.
There’s been a rumor that Cameron wants to release a 9-hour director's cut of ‘Avatar 3’ on Disney+ after its theatrical release. The 2009 original was 2 hours and 41 minutes, while last year’s ‘The Way of Water’ ran for 3 hours and 12 minutes. The theatrical version of ‘Avatar 3’ will probably be over 3-hours again.
Cameron has already hinted about what to expect with ‘Avatar 3.’ Firstly, it won't feature Sam Worthington's Jake Sully narrating, but rather, Jake's son Lo'ak, played by Britain Dalton. Additionally, Cameron confirmed we will be getting new tribes added into the story, including the fire Na'vi.
While James L. Brooks teased last year that "we'll soon be seeing" Jack Nicholson, 89, act again, and that he was "reading scripts," that idea has now been shut down by his close friend Michael Douglas, 82.