I famously predicted that there would be no sequel to Batman Begins. But I was right about no sequel to Superman Returns! What I’m trying to say is that nobody is perfect and that foretelling the future is a rough business.
With that out of the way, I doubt James Cameron directs an Avatar sequel. He has sequelized one of his own movies, and that came on the heels of a major bomb with The Abyss. I suspect that had The Abyss been a hit we would have never seen T2. Add to that the way Cameron works – he throws himself completely into a movie like Avatar, living in that world for a decade – which lends itself to a serious case of if not burn out at least the desire to take a break, and I’m willing to bet that he never makes a sequel to Avatar.
Now, someone else might. Which is important because Ain’t It Cool is running a scoop originating at an Avatar screening Q&A where, after some hemming and hawing, Cameron did say there will be a sequel to Avatar. ‘Yes, there’ll be another,’ he said. But he didn’t say he was directing it.
I just can’t imagine that Avatar Two holds much interest for Cameron. My read on the guy, bolstered after seeing Avatar, is that it’s about the tech for him – that’s the challenge. And he beat the challenge with this movie. While the tech exists to tell more stories in that world, I’m betting that Cameron is looking to meet the next tech challenge, whatever he finds that to be. Because, let’s face it – by the time Avatar Two comes out there’s going to be nothing remotely special about 3D or really well captured facial movements on CG characters. The world moves fast, and Cameron isn’t going to be interested in redoing what he’s already done.
So he may hire someone to direct Avatar Two and maybe Three, but I doubt he’ll be the guy helming them. This, of course, will only fuel the ludicrous Star Wars comparisons. But you know what wouldn’t surprise me? Cameron never making another narrative movie and instead turning his focus on something like space tourism or another branch of the sciences.
28 comments
Is it too early to start calling it AVA2AR?
"But you know what wouldn't surprise me? Cameron never making another narrative movie and instead turning his focus on something like space tourism or another branch of the sciences."
I laughed at this when I first read it, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to me.
I wonder what other movies we've already seen a bunch of times will they rip off this time..
Cameron will definitely stick with movies. If you follow his career, the whole bit about him doing the ocean dives after Titanic was more about doing it while he could and some other stuff, but never about his lack of interest in continuing in film. That said, I hope he doesn't do another Avatar. I enjoyed it just fine, but think the story's really told all it needs to and I'd rather see his abilities directed toward fresher (and more frequent) ideas.
Why even fortell the future then? Unless you are a psychic. I mean…we got a Boondock Saints II 9 years later, a Tron 2 over a decade later, and a pseudo-sequal to Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Jonah Hill in it BUT NOT playing his original character. nevrer predict.
But new environments and new creatures and and new moons and new things to wow people would still be a technical challenge. It's not like he'd be remaking the first one. He would step up his game and raise the bar again. At least try to. I think that interests him for sure.
naaaah. cameron has fallen in love with the na'vi and he won't let another director even near his property! the next installment isn't set on pandora, he'll be able to do whatever he wants since he doesn't have to set things up anymore and he's gonna REALLY cut loose in the next installment! i'm there opening day to be blown away again:)
Isn't the next step photorealism? I mean honestly avatar looked just fine, but it definitely wasn't photo realistic. If cameron can figure out how to simulate photorealistic humans, real sounding voices, and get rid of actors altogether, him and Lucas could make movies forever! Hell, I think Cameron should spend the next 10 years turning himself into a computer so he can make movies forever.
"a Tron 2 over a decade later"? Try THREE decades.
Your 'suspicions' about T2 and 'read' on Cameron are dumb and based on conjecture. You don't take a gamble on making the most expensive film ever looking for financial security, and there's plenty of indication he wanted to revisit Terminator. The rights were tied up until '89.
And while it's obvious Cameron is always looking to push some boundaries in filmmaking, it's not as if that's his primary interest. Familiarize yourself with the production of A Crowded Room.
@Lucidz. I agree about the CGI being fine but not real. Photorealism has been "the next step" for years and years. I think it will literally be ten years at least before we can look at a movie and genuinely not know if it's real or digital.
I think the next logical step to Avatar is a side-quel if you will. Not a direct sequel, but a side adventure showing what state the Earth is presently in. Given the earth technology in Avatar, it is well within reason to make the next movie if there is one, completely earth based, involving the politics of what transpired on Pandora, the further advancement of earth technology and maybe some background story to Jake Sully and his brothe and the scientific community involved. I think Cameron's done all he can do in the breadth and scope of Pandora, but a more humanizing drama taing place on Pandora timeline Earth would be interesting and to me more engaging to say the least
#11 (and #8): Watch this and tell me CG photorealism isn't here already: http://vimeo.com/7809605
It's just not being done by James Cameron, that's all.
How was The Abyss a "major bomb?"
It certainly didn't dominate, but it made money. Not sure I understand how The Abyss lead to that turd T2 based on some perceived failure.
He's gone on record saying all he wants to do is make movies until he's really old (Hollywood Reporter Director's Roundtable) so who knows?
He will and it'll make 3 billion dollars.
At Russish (#13): That was very impressive. Photorealism in film is obviously not far away at all. I couldn't believe that ALL of that was fabricated in a computer. Technology's advances are becoming more and more astounding.
Russish, that was neat, but it didn't feature moving and speaking humans. That's the last hurdle.
But, you're right, they sure are getting close.
I would rather see Sigourney Weaver and Cameron do a an Aliens sequel. I mean talk about scare the crap out of you 3-D and IMAX.
For my money Weaver looked great and lots of attitude. All I could think about was those two returning to the material.
Shit, the only real challenge remaining for Cameron would be to make a movie that didn't cost ten billion dollars.
I hope Cameron doesn't make it just to cash in. He really made a film that was a work of true passion for film imo, a rare thing in hollywood. I can go on for HOURS about the difference between a movie made for money and a movie made to send a message or in this film's case attempt to pioneer new filmmaking techniques. Like what lucas did with the prequels, a sorry decline for a once glorious franchise. I admit I'm a bit too fast to judge movies without thinking, but I think even objectively they're just awful piles of garbage. Please don't make the same mistake Cameron.
Kathryn Bigelow to direct AVATAR 2. I'm calling it here first.
I think money dictates that there will be a sequel, but I would not be surprised if it had another director. That was he is covered if it is panned or under performs. There is sure to be some backlash on the sequel as many people feel this movie got over underservedly.
I think he keeps making movies, I recently saw an interview where he said that he got that other stuff out of his system and is ready to focus on movie making now.
I think money dictates that there will be a sequel, but I would not be surprised if it had another director. That was he is covered if it is panned or under performs. There is sure to be some backlash on the sequel as many people feel this movie got over underservedly.
I think he keeps making movies, I recently saw an interview where he said that he got that other stuff out of his system and is ready to focus on movie making now.
who knows.. a lot of time was spent just creating the characters and environments.. he just has to open that file again and move his puppets around to a another overdone plot..
"You don't take a gamble on making the most expensive film ever looking for financial security,"
derrr……don't look now but wasn't it WEEKS ago that Cameron went on record saying that part of the pitch for Avatar was that yes it's expensive, but it was financially sound because the assets are built and paid for subsequent Avatar films, which will therefore cost comparatively little? Seeing as he's said as much, I would ABSOLUTELY expect subsequent films to take place in pretty much the same environments he's already shown
Have to agree Weaver looked remarkably still able to tackle another round of Ripley. I was/am a supporter of Alien 3's attempt to be an Alien movie and not an Aliens movie. But I'd rather see Aliens 2 than Avatar 2 by a long shot. A crusty old Hicks included.
What the hell would make you think that Batman Begins wouldn't have a sequel? The whole movie is a set up! come on now…
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.