Although sci-fi fans have many Avatar movies to look forward to now that James Cameron has confirmed his long-term franchise plans, the director’s commitment to this particular film series may be a problem for the sci-fi genre as a whole. In 2009, James Cameron released Avatar, a science fiction film following a former Marine who journeys to the alien planet of Pandora, where he becomes a part of the Na’avi tribe and fights to protect it. Thirteen years later, Cameron returned with the long-awaited Avatar sequel, spurring on the confirmation of three upcoming Avatar movies in the iconic franchise.
At this point, James Cameron has announced that there will be five films in the Avatar franchise. The first and second have already been released to incredible acclaim, and the next three will be promptly released in 2025, 2029, and 2031, according to the director. In many ways, Cameron’s confirmations and deadlines are exciting. Avatar is certainly a groundbreaking franchise both in the sci-fi genre and outside of it. Its CGI alone is record-breaking and has an effect on movie-making in general. However, James Cameron’s Avatar plans are also a step in the wrong direction for sci-fi.
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James Cameron’s Commitment To Avatar Compromises The Whole Sci-Fi Genre
Though the Avatar franchise is a major piece of the modern sci-fi genre, James Cameron’s commitment to it also hurts the genre. Cameron is dedicating so many years to Avatar, that he will be unable to make anything new until 2031. That is about 22 years spent on Avatar. And while Avatar is a worthwhile endeavor, it is taking away from other potential James Cameron movies that could be just as great or even greater. Cameron will be 77 by the time Avatar is completed, and if he retires afterward, that would be a significant disappointment for the genre.
James Cameron’s Avatar Movies | Release Dates |
Avatar | December 18, 2009 |
Avatar: The Way of Water | December 16, 2022 |
Avatar 3 | December 19, 2025 |
Avatar 4 | December 21, 2029 |
Avatar 5 | December 19, 2031 |
The most important component of this situation is that James Cameron is one of the greatest sci-fi filmmakers of this generation. Before Avatar, Cameron had already made his name with iconic hits like The Terminator and Alien. He even tried his hand at drama in 1997 with Titanic, and made one of the greatest and most recognizable drama films of all time. In this way, James Cameron is full of potential that is being, arguably, drained by Avatar. Though the director could be making the next Alien, he is instead dedicating full decades to Avatar.
James Cameron Only Wants To Do Avatar Sequels
Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done about this situation. James Cameron has fully committed himself to the Avatar franchise, and if his word can be trusted, then it seems like these are the only movies he wants to make. Presumably, if another idea caught his interest, Cameron would hopefully spend his time making that, but for now, he seems rooted in Avatar, and his firm announcements of the sequels prove that this is where he will be for the next six to seven years. Hopefully, Avatar can continue to amaze just as a new James Cameron movie would.
Avatar Avatar: The Way of Water Director James Cameron James Cameron Release Date 2009-12-18 2022-12-16 Cast Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Giovanni Ribisi, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, CCH Pounder, Jemaine Clement, Edie Falco Genres Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
