‘Alita’ Sequel Still in the Works — Will James Cameron Direct?

As I reported in May, at Cannes I was told by a producer that James Cameron and Jon Landau have been trying to get an “Alita” sequel going.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Disney boss Bob Iger made it very clear that the only way this would happen was if Cameron directed it himself and not original director Robert Rodriguez.

Speaking with Screen Rant, when asked if the sequel was still a possibility, Landau’s enthusiasm hasn’t wavered in the slightest and, it seems, neither has Cameron’s. They want to do it:

It came on HBO one night, and Jim watched it and called me after he watched it. He said, “Jon, Alita was on, I just decided to watch it. It’s a good movie.” (laughs) And it is! So, I want to be able to definitely do more in that world.”

Cameron has been planning his “Last Train from Hiroshima” adaptation, which, he’s claimed, might be shot in-between the 3rd and 4th ‘Avatar’ films. However, as I had written in the summer, he is considering taking up Iger’s offer.

Don’t take it, James. We want that ‘Hiroshima’ movie. No more 3-D fantasy world extravaganzas, take a break from that. As much as I “liked” ‘Alita,’ it’s not the type of film that would get me that excited for a sequel.

“Alita” followed an amnesiac cyborg who rediscovers her past life as a battle droid. Adapted from Yukito Kishiro’s original manga, the film garnered mixed reviews and made a disappointing $400 million worldwide. However, a major fanbase developed in ensuing years.

Cameron has been sucked up by the 3D virtual reality that is Pandora and, by all accounts, he doesn’t mind staying there for the rest of his career. That’s why it’d be great if he took on the more humanist ‘Hiroshima’ in between his ‘Avatar’ movies.