Support NeoGAF

[Bobby Roberts]

What was previously just a safe assumption is now, according to The Wrap's sources, a definite.

The studio on Thursday declined comment on the delay, which individuals with knowledge of the situation confirmed. There is no new release date set for the movie, or word on the two other sequels, which Fox had planned to release in the same holiday corridor in 2018 and 2019.

It’s the second delay for “Avatar 2,” which Fox had originally planned to release by Christmas of this year. Cameron intends to shoot all three films in the trilogy at the same time in New Zealand, with Cameron and Jon Landau producing through Lightstorm Entertainment. Soundstage construction and some computer animation work is in the early stages, but a start date for filming has not been set.

Writer Todd Cunningham offers up his own speculation as to what might be bumping back the shooting:

The director is known for being a perfectionist and an advocate of developing new technology to advance the craft, both traits that could potentially delay the process.

The delay could be caused by the underwater element, which is notoriously tricky and often expensive. It’s likely Cameron has been developing envelope-pushing camera equipment for the films as well. The original film took five years to make it to the screen and spent more than two years in postproduction.

 

[injurai]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

 

[Amir0x]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

Will it ever technically be possible to avoid Star Wars again with Disney's schedule? I submit to you it is not!

 

[ViewtifulJC]

For those keeping track:
Oct 2010: Avatar 2 will open Dec 2014
Jan 2012: It'll open Dec 2015
Aug 2013: I mean Dec 2016
Jan 2015: Dec 2017, for real this time
Jan 2016: Did I say 2017? I meant WHEN THE FUCK EVER I'M JAMES CAMERON

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

But weren't people so sure that Avatar 2 would destroy The Force Awakens' records?

 

[gamz]

Figured as much. I bet they start to film once Zoe is done with GOTG 2.

 

[ryan299]

Kinda obviously once SW moved to December. Ridiculous that it's taking Cameron this long to make the movies.

 

[Chamber]

I don't think it has much to do with Star Wars. Avatar 2 is Half-Life 3 status.

 

[gamz]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

Nah. Disney probably were confident that Avatar is not going to be ready by that date, thus they took it.

 

[injurai]

I don't think it has much to do with Star Wars. Avatar 2 is Half-Life 3 status.

HL3 also moved to avoid SW.

 

[dabig2]

Did anyone seriously believe that tentative winter 2017 date? I'm trying to remember that thread from a couple months ago with James Cameron saying how he "targeting" a 2017 date, and I'm pretty sure few bought it.

 

[Jigorath]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

Avatar 2 was never going to be ready for 2017, Star Wars or no Star Wars.

 

[Shaanyboi]

three more Avatar movies

that's something the world sure needs...

 

[Rktk]

But weren't people so sure that Avatar 2 would destroy The Force Awakens' records?

Those people are crazy, can't say I've seen anyone suggest that, but they'd be right to say Avatar is the biggest grossing film of all time and will continue to be after the Star Wars releases.

 

[Ashhong]

Kinda obviously once SW moved to December. Ridiculous that it's taking Cameron this long to make the movies.

How so? The dude is known to take his time. Look at the results and the impact his movies have had, regardless of your opinion about the movie itself. Avatar was what, 12 years after Titanic?

 

[Blader]

Huh, so I guess someone at Disney did know after all.

 

[3N16MA]

Kinda obviously once SW moved to December. Ridiculous that it's taking Cameron this long to make the movies.

I don't think it has anything to do with Star Wars. Cameron said recently (before the SW date change) that making the December 2017 date was not a priority. The film simply won't be ready.

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

I'm curious to know what revolutionary technology Avatar 2 will have that allows theater owners to gouge consumers' wallets even further.

 

[TDLink]

Who could have seen this coming

 

[Gorillaz]

Lol

That shit ain't ever coming out breh

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Lol

That shit ain't ever coming out breh

 

[Rktk]

I'm curious to know what revolutionary technology Avatar 2 will have that allows theater owners to gouge consumers' wallets even further.

It would need to be something revived, like with 3D, so maybe Smell-O-Vision.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Avatar is so fucking weird.

Biggest box office of all time and no one knows what is happening with the sequel.

 

[btrboyev]

We don't need another avatar...and I don't think anybody is asking for another.

 

[Toa TAK]

WHY HAVENT YOU HEARD ME, EWYA?!!?


Edit: wait a second, what do you mean "underwater element?"

 

[Escape Goat]

Theyre going to remake Avatar 1 before they get to a sequel.

 

[injurai]

Theyre going to remake Avatar 1 before they get to a sequel.

How else will they recast Worthington as Jai Courtney?

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

Scully, are you okay?

 

[NealMcCauley]

Mmhmm. Not surprised anymore.

 

[duckroll]

WHY HAVENT YOU HEARD ME, EWYA?!!?


Edit: wait a second, what do you mean "underwater element?"

It means Cameron has teased several times that the subsequent films might explore the other parts of Pandora, including the ocean, and the author of this article speculated on that to pad it with more words to make it look more substantial and complete rather than just "SHOCKING NEWS: I heard Avatar definitely isn't making Dec 2017". Why our great LoreMaster thought it was worth putting in the OP, I have no idea.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

Trying to avoid Star Wars no doubt.

Maybe a small factor, but honestly it was always going to be delayed again, regardless of Star Wars.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

No surprise here after the interview with Cameron a couple weeks back.

But watch all the stupid talk about it trying to avoid Star Wars, until the three films are delayed to the following three years' December slots.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

No surprise here after the interview with Cameron a couple weeks back.

But watch all the stupid talk about it trying to avoid Star Wars, until the three films are delayed to the following three years' December slots.

Good to have you back, brother.

Thought you might be perm'd.

It means Cameron has teased several times that the subsequent films might explore the other parts of Pandora, including the ocean, and the author of this article speculated on that to pad it with more words to make it look more substantial and complete rather than just "SHOCKING NEWS: I heard Avatar definitely isn't making Dec 2017". Why our great LoreMaster thought it was worth putting in the OP, I have no idea.

FOTS SHIRED

 

[Einchy]

Even James Cameron forgot about Avatar.

 

[Toa TAK]

It means Cameron has teased several times that the subsequent films might explore the other parts of Pandora, including the ocean,

I haven't kept up on Avatar sequel news beyond news dates, so this is pretty cool. Bummer the movie is being delayed.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Why our great LoreMaster thought it was worth putting in the OP, I have no idea.

Because it was part of the article and I thought it might be worth discussing the potential advancements in filmmaking technology the man might be pursuing.

It's not too hard to suss out, I don't think. More stuff to talk about/speculate about isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? Especially considering the low bar that is set in a lot of other film OPs as to possible conversation fodder.

 

[JAVK]

.

 

[duckroll]

Because it was part of the article and I thought it might be worth discussing the potential advancements in filmmaking technology the man might be pursuing.

It's not too hard to suss out, I don't think.

So it's the Moviegaf version of all those stupid worthless NX threads on Gaming? Gotcha.

 

[Toa TAK]

Where's the love guys?

 

[plasmawave]

Nevatar.

 

[Gorillaz]

#TroofFacts

 

[Bobby Roberts]

So it's the Moviegaf version of all those stupid worthless NX threads on Gaming? Gotcha.

I'm confused as to what it is you're frustrated with right now.

Should I have not pointed out the content of the article? What would have happened had someone read it and quoted it? Would you have fired a snitty shot at them for noting the content of the article being discussed?

What's going on here.

 

[weshes195]

I just assumed this would happen lol

Cameron takes a LONG time with his films, especially his sequels. Unless a trailer is out, never get too excited about a release date.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Nevatar.

This is actually not bad.

 

[kswiston]

Will it ever technically be possible to avoid Star Wars again with Disney's schedule? I submit to you it is not!

Probably not, but I don't think that the spin-offs will stay special for very long. Most people have decided that they don't need to see every MCU film in Theatres, and this will be the same to some extent.

Depending on how long it takes for them to actually get production going, and how long it takes them to shoot the 3 films, releasing Avatar 2-4 in the three Decembers following SW Ep 9 might make sense. I don't think that Disney will rush into Ep 10 after 2 years.

 

[duckroll]

What's going on here.

From the looks of things, nothing is happening. Fox probably isn't too happy about that though!

 

[Einchy]

Probably not, but I don't think that the spin-offs will stay special for very long. Most people have decided that they don't need to see every MCU film in Theatres, and this will be the same to some extent.

Have they? Even Ant-man made $519.3 million.

 

[half a moon]

James Cameron doesn't care about black people.

 

[Lebron]

The Avatar theme park will hold us over till Lord Cameron blesses us again

 

[yepyepyep]

Cameron waiting for the 4d3d3d3 projectors.

How else will he realistically render the flargunnstow?