Work on all four sequels to James Cameron’s Avatar has well and truly began with Visual Effects studio Weta Digital taking the lead on the long awaited follow up(s) to Cameron’s 2009 fantasy/sci-fi offering.
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Weta Digital, who worked on the first Avatar, have recently been involved with War of the Planet of the Apes to provide a realistic CGI approach, and it’s their work in this area that has convinced Cameron to bring the studio back onboard for his planned sequels.
“What Joe Letteri and Weta Digital bring to these stories is impossible to quantify,” said Cameron, referring to Weta Digital’s senior visual effects supervisor. “Since we made ‘Avatar,’ Weta continued to prove themselves as doing the best CG animation, the most human, the most alive, the most photorealistic effects in the world.”
John Landau who will be involved as a producer on all the new Avatar films also expressed his admiration for the studio and expressed how perfectly Weta Digital will work with his Lightstorm Entertainment production company on the projects.
“The depth of talent at Weta is impressive and the culture of excellence is one that matches how we do things at Lightstorm”
Avatar 2 will see a return to the cast for Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and even Sigourney Weaver has confirmed her involvement, filming is due to commence in Autumn 2017.
Back in April, James Cameron himself announced the expected release dates of December 18, 2020, December 17, 2021, December 20, 2024, and December 19, 2025, for the four sequels.