Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron, which began with the eponymous 2009 film. Produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios, and consists of associated merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions.[1] Avatar is set in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The film's central conflict is between the indigenous Na'vi led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, and humans led by Colonel Miles Quaritch from the Resources Development Administration (RDA), a megacorp which has arrived on Pandora to colonize and pillage it for its natural resources. The title of the series refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi body operated from the brain that humans pilot to interact with on Pandora.
Like the original film, the four sequels have "fully encapsulated" stand-alone plots that "come to their own conclusions". The four films have an overarching meta-narrative that connects them to create a large interconnected saga.[2] Cameron described the sequels as "a natural extension of all the themes, and the characters, and the spiritual undercurrents" of the first film.
Avatar was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zo Saldaa, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Laz Alonso, and Wes Studi, and was set in the year 2154.
The story focuses on an epic conflict on Pandora, an inhabited Earth-sized moon of Polyphemus, one of three gas giants orbiting Alpha Centauri A. On Pandora, human colonists and the sentient humanoid indigenous inhabitants of Pandora, the Na'vi, engage in a war over the planet's resources (such as unobtanium) and the latter's continued existence. The film's title refers to the remotely controlled, genetically engineered human-Na'vi bodies used by the film's human characters to interact with the natives.[4] The protagonist, Jake Sully, is a paraplegic young man who travels to Pandora from Earth. Assisting the corporate monolith known as the Resources Development Administration (RDA), he is given an avatar which he uses to interact with the story's heroine, Neytiri, as well as her clan known as the Omatikaya.
Avatar: The Way of Water was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zo Saldaa, Joel David Moore, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Bliss, Jamie Flatters, Britain Dalton, and Jack Champion, and was set 16 years after the first film in the year 2170.
Set over a decade after the events of the first film, The Way of Water focuses on the return of the RDA, which prompts Jake's family to seek refuge in the water regions of Pandora in an effort to keep one another safe. Cameron said in an interview that while the first film was about the "awe and wonder", the sequel focuses more on the characters. The film was originally planned for a December 2014 release, but was delayed several times and released on December 16, 2022. Production began in August 2017. It wrapped in September 2020.[5][6][7]
A third film is planned for release on December 19, 2025.[8] Interviews in mid-2010 suggested that the third film would explore more of the Alpha Centauri system, but the script was not completed until late 2015. Avatar 3 started shooting simultaneously with Avatar: The Way of Water in New Zealand on September 25, 2017; filming was completed in late December 2020. The third film will introduce a new aggressive Na'vi Clan known as 'Ash People' who reside near volcanoes.[8][9] Cameron stated that Avatar: The Seed Bearer is being considered as a possible title for the film,[10] but Landau debunked the rumor in December 2023.[11]
A fourth film is planned for release on December 21, 2029.[8] Jon Landau said that, due to a six-year time skip in the first act, a third of Avatar 4 has already been filmed to account for the aging of the child actors, and on September 9, 2022, it was announced at the D23 Expo that principal photography had officially begun for Avatar 4.[8][9] Cameron stated that Avatar: The Tulkun Rider is being considered as a possible title for the film.[10]
A fifth film has been announced and is scheduled for December 19, 2031.[8] Jon Landau has stated that part of Avatar 5 will take place on Earth, with Neytiri visiting the planet.[12][13][8][9] Cameron stated that Avatar: The Quest for Eywa is being considered as a possible title for the film.[10][14][15]
In December 2022, Cameron revealed that he has plans for a potential sixth and seventh film and would make them if there was demand.[14][15] In February 2024, Cameron reiterated his plans for the sixth and seventh film and admitted that he would probably pass the baton off to another director.[16]
Following the release of Avatar, Cameron initially planned to write a novel based on the film, "telling the story of the movie, but [going] into much more depth about all the stories that we didn't have time to deal with."[40]
In 2013, this plan was superseded by the announcement of four new novels set within the "Avatar expanded universe", to be written by Steven Gould.[41] The books were due to be published by Penguin Random House, although since 2017, but there has been no update on the planned book series.[42]
Avatar The Way of Water The Visual Dictionary is a visual guide that showcases characters, vehicles, weapons, locations, and more from the movie, as well as many stunning exclusive details. This book was released on December 16, 2022, by DK Books
On May 6, 2017, Dark Horse Comics published a Free Comic Book Day one-shot entitled FCBD 2017: James Cameron's Avatar / Briggs Land, which included a short story set in the world of Avatar entitled "Brothers".[51][52]From January to August 2019, Dark Horse published a six-issue miniseries called Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path.[53][54][55][56][57][58][52]Tsu'tey's Path was collected in trade paperback format on November 27, 2019, with "Brothers" included as supplementary material.[52]
Avatar The Exhibition is a touring exhibition based on the first film. It opened in Chengdu, China on May 1, 2021, and closed on December 31, 2021.[60][61] It is currently touring Asia with future stops planned around the globe.[62]
Some indigenous groups, including Native Americans, have called for a boycott of the franchise over "tone-deaf" handling of indigenous cultures and cultural appropriation. Both Avatar films have drawn criticism for casting several white and other non-indigenous actors in the roles of the alien native people. Cameron said he tried to move away from a white savior narrative.[66][67][68] The film series was criticized for "romanticization of colonization" and putting forward a monolithic portrayal of Indigenous people.[69]
Cameron faced criticism for comments made after the release of the first film.[66][67][68] In 2010, Cameron and Avatar actors supported the Xingu peoples in opposing the construction of the Belo Monte Dam.[70]
In 2012, Cameron said Avatar is a fictional retelling of the history of North and South America in the early Colonial period, "with all its conflict and bloodshed between the military aggressors from Europe and the indigenous peoples".[71][72]
Avatar News is in no way affiliated with Paramount, Nickelodeon, Avatar Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Abrams Books, Insight Editions, Netflix, or any other entity whose property may be present on the Avatar News website (avatarnews.co & korranews.com) or Avatar News social media accounts. Avatar News makes no claim of ownership to any content owned by any such entities.
Avatar News is in no way affiliated with Paramount, Nickelodeon, Avatar Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Abrams Books, Insight Editions, Netflix, or any other entity whose property may be present on the Avatar News website (avatarnews.co & korranews.com) or Avatar News social media accounts. Avatar News makes no claim of ownership to anything owned by any such entities.
I haven't thought about 3D films since maybe 2013, and I don't even know if The Way of Water makes me believe more in the power of 3D films, either. Instead, I had this sensation of something different, some sort of hyperreal 3D experience that was more reminiscent of virtual VR worlds and even video games. This isn't an insult to James Cameron at all; it's just that the smooth, ultra-real 3D this movie ended up becoming in Imax
Video games on high-end consoles and PCs often have that moment where you think you're watching a cinematic cutscene, and then suddenly you realize you're able to control your character in a shockingly realistic world. I felt, at times, moments away from that feeling in The Way of Water, especially since many of its most memorable moments were directed in fluid shots and perspectives that seemed to follow characters as they moved, or even looked directly at characters through the perspective of another's eyes.
This is intentional, I think. It becomes particularly powerful later on, in the film's shocking aquatic scenes. At the higher frame rate of the screening, these moments resembled nature documentaries and made me feel even more convinced that what I was seeing was somehow actually real. It made the emotional impact greater (I don't want to share spoilers regarding what I'm referring to).
Earlier on, in the first hour, the detail, fluid movement, and intensely rich 3D graphics were a bit jarring, even uncanny. I have to admit I felt like I'd started watching cutscenes from a video game on a 2027-era PlayStation. I had to remind myself that this was a film.
Weirdly, 3D on a massive Imax screen helps make experiences more intimate (for me). I kept taking off my glasses and becoming more aware of the screen's sheer scale. With glasses on, my field of view framed perfectly to the scope of the screen, I found the experience more focused. Almost like looking into a VR headset.
b1e95dc632