James Cameron has announced, via Twitter video message, that the "Avatar" sequels have completed all principal photography involving main cast members. "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3" have been filming since September of 2017.
“Hi, James Cameron here and today I’m coming to you from the set of the Avatar sequels — and behind me you can see our performance-capture stage. Today we’re capturing some stunt scenes filming some stunt scenes but our principal cast are all wrapped: Sam [Worthington], Zoe [Saldana], Sigourney [Weaver], Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet.”
The Oscar-winning filmmaker added: “They’re done now but they gave us incredible performances. And I can’t tell you how proud I am of the work that they did on these films.”
"Avatar 2" is due in theaters on December 18, 2020, and will be followed by "Avatar 3" on December 17, 2021. Two additional sequels are planned.
That's a lot of post production time. It probably has to do with Cameron designing some kind of new 3D standard which makes post-production even longer than usual. We are not quite sure what he is up to in terms of the technology that will be used for these sequels, but rumors suggest that he is looking to make them into a glasses-free 3D experience.
"I'm going to push. Not only for better tools, workflow, high dynamic range and high frame rates - the things we are working toward. I'm still very bullish on 3D, but we need brighter projection, and ultimately I think it can happen - with no glasses. We'll get there."
"We need to see the roll out of these laser projection systems, so that we can fully appreciate 3D through glasses in cinemas. Then, we need the roll out of autostereoscopic screens, large panel displays, where you don't need glasses at all. You have multiple discreet viewing angles and all that sort of thing. Anybody that's geeking out on 3D knows what I'm talking about. It's all possible. It's just a question of will it happen or not."
If the movie is as rough as some in the industry seem to fear, that teaser may have been less of a marketing campaign and more of a public plea for somebody to finally take the damn thing.