Avatar 2, Originally Slated For 2014, Has Been Delayed For The 7th Time
This will forever be the funniest saga in the movie world.
'Avatar 2' has had EIGHT... 8!!!!... different release years.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2020
2021
2022
So, 2022 it is! Eight years after the original release year of 2014. That was always a fairly aggressive release year, especially with the rumored underwater technology, and possible 3D without-glasses gimmick they discussed. James Cameron released a statement on the matter as 'Avatar 2' had to move yet again, this time due to COVID-19:
It's worth noting that James Cameron has defended the past delays, as well:
I wouldn’t call them delays. It was highly optimistic that we could start quickly until scripts are written. If there’s no scripts, there’s nothing, right? The scripts took four years. You can call that a delay, but it’s not really a delay because from the time we pushed the button to really go make the movies [until now,] we’re clicking along perfectly. We’re doing very well because of all the time that we had to develop the system and the pipeline and all that. We weren’t wasting time, we were putting it into tech development and design. So when all the scripts were approved, everything was designed. Every character, every creature, every setting. In a funny way it was to the benefit of the film because the design team had more time to work. (via Vanity Fair)
I absolutely get his point… however… it is still fucking hilarious.
The time between 'Avatar' and 'Avatar 2' will now be a total of 13 years.
While the movie made a metric shit ton of money, all while being an original property (which is impressive as hell), it never really made the cultural impact that aligned with how much money the movie earned. Can it really spark people with interest driven by nostalgia from the movie? How big can the fandom possibly be?
With that said, James Cameron is the master of movie marketing and making a release explode on the box office level. Now with Disney firmly behind the movies (on the film and theme parks side), there is no chance this thing doesn't push $2 billion upon release. How can it not? The movie has undergone 13 years of marketing, essentially.
We may make fun of the movie and franchise, but we will all be there to see it on opening day.
I'll be there on that December Thursday night, popcorn in hand, ready to watch James Cameron's weird aliens with sex tails.