‘Avatar 2’ Release Delayed; Here’s Everything We Know So Far

Sad news for fans of "Avatar," Director James Cameron has confirmed that "Avatar 2" will once again be delayed. Filming for "Avatar 2" was supposed to begin in summer this year, after the scripts for "Avatar 3," "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5" are completed.

"Avatar 2," which was originally scheduled to hit theaters on December 2014, will not premiere in 2018 and will instead be moved to another date. "Well, 2018 is not happening. We haven't announced a firm release date," Cameron told The Toronto Star. "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. It's not unlike building the Three Gorges dam."

In some sense, the delay for the sequel is justified considering that it did, after all, take Cameron and his team four and a half years to complete the first "Avatar" movie. The production for the next four "Avatar" films will span an estimated eight-year period.

"Avatar 3," "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5" were originally slated for release on Christmas of 2020, 2022 and 2023. It was not stated, however, if these release dates will be affected by the delay for "Avatar 2," although it is likely considering that all four films will be shot simultaneously.

On a brighter note, Cameron said that they already have well-designed creatures and sets. Moreover, actress Sigourney Weaver teased that the scripts for the next films are "many times more amazing that the first one in terms of their scope," Variety reported.

Weaver is reprising her role as Dr. Grace Augustine. Stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang are also returning.

Cameron previously hinted that the "Avatar 2" plot will introduce Jake (Worthington) and Neytiri's (Saldana) family. The storyline will follow Jake, Neytiri and their children, making the sequel even more of a family event and a continuation of the Omaticaya Clan's fight against human invaders.

In the sequel, Jake is already the chieftain of the Omaticaya Clan in Pandora, while his wife Neytiri is the high priestess.