All 4 ‘Avatar’ sequels now have official release dates

If you loved “Avatar”—a.k.a. “Blue-Skinned Pocahontas in Space”—you’ll be delighted to know that all four of its sequels now have official release dates.

Despite its hackneyed environment vs. industry story, 2009’s “Avatar” was a massive success, in large part due to its fantastic visuals and uncomfortably sexy blue aliens.

For years, “Avatar” writer, director, and co-producer James Cameron promised a sequel. His efforts eventually bore fruit, giving rise to enough material for not one, but four sequels. Now it has been announced on the “Avatar” Facebook page that these movies will be opening in theaters on:

• December 18, 2020;
• December 17, 2021;
• December 20, 2024; and
• December 19, 2025.

When it was previously revealed that “Avatar 2” wasn’t getting a 2018 release date, Cameron told the Toronto Star that the delay had a lot to do with the process of developing the four sequels simultaneously:

“What people have to understand is that this is a cadence of releases. So we’re not making Avatar 2. We’re making Avatar 2, 3, 4 and 5. It’s an epic undertaking… So I know where I’m going to be for the next eight years of my life,” he said.

He pointed out that it took “Avatar” four-and-half years to make, so it stands to reason that developing the four follow-up movies at the same time would take longer.

“It’s not an unreasonable time frame if you think about it,” he said.

Cameron also stated that the team behind the franchise has pretty much designed most of the sets and creatures for the four films.

“It’s pretty exciting stuff. I wish I could share with the world. But we have to preserve a certain amount of showmanship and we’re going to draw that curtain when the time is right.”

Several actors have been confirmed to reprise their roles for the upcoming sequels, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang.

Cameron, of course, will be producing again alongside Jon Landau via Lightstorm Entertainment. Cameron will be directing scripts he co-wrote with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Shane Salerno and Josh Friedman. — BM, GMA News