When we saw the concluding moments of James Cameron’s widely successful movie Avatar, released in 2009, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and a handful of other humans were the only ones who remained on Pandora’s Na’vi world. Everyone else was sent back to Earth, leaving behind them an indelible mark that would be felt for years to come.

Fortunately, Jake was granted the extraordinary opportunity to be permanently transferred into his avatar with the help of the ancient Tree of Souls. This remarkable event enabled him to become one with his virtual self and embark on an exciting journey full of new possibilities.

Over the past few years, children have matured and parents have joyfully welcomed their grandchildren into the world. Unfortunately, these same people waited in vain for sequels to their beloved films that never materialized. During this period of time, Snapchat achieved success with its launch and the Chicago Cubs astonishingly won a World Series title after many long years of disappointment.

The protracted delay was a source of frustration for Cameron, an acclaimed perfectionist. His grandiose visions for a world that was entirely submerged in H2O could not be achieved until the technology had reached the necessary level to provide realistic CGI images of underwater scenes. However, after considerable effort and patience, his dream finally became a reality.

At long last, Cameron’s vision is finally coming to fruition; his master plan has been put into motion and he is going to be shooting four sequels back to back, two movies at a time. All his preparation and hard work has culminated in this moment and it will certainly pay off as the sequels proceed.

The wait for the much-anticipated sequel to Avatar has been interminable and is without a doubt the longest delay for any movie follow-up in cinematic history. Despite this, the original Avatar film still holds its place as the highest-grossing motion picture of all time, amassing an astonishing $2.8 billion worldwide at the box office.

At a Vivid event in Sydney, Cameron addressed vfxblog with the assurance that Avatar 2, 3, 4, and 5 would all be presented in three-dimensional format. He promised these films would appear to be luxurious and he was determined to create the most superior quality of 3D that could possibly be achieved.

Now that we’ve had the privilege of viewing Avatar 2 – or rather, Avatar: The Way of Water – it is plain to see that the visuals are every bit as awe-inspiring and remarkable as we all anticipated. Without a doubt, it has surpassed our expectations in terms of its stunning visual effects and artistry. If you would like to know more about this spectacular cinematic experience, please read on for further details.

WHO’S IN THEM?

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and CCH Pounder will revive their original characters from the first movie, with Sigourney Weaver portraying a new character instead of her former role as Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar. Weaver is set to come back to the series but this time she will lend her voice to an alternative part.

In James Cameron’s Avatar, the star-studded cast includes renowned Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet from Titanic fame, Game of Thrones’ Oona Chaplin, who is also a granddaughter of iconic filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, David Thewlis famed for his roles in the Harry Potter films and Fear The Walking Dead’s Cliff Curtis. Newcomers to the production all boast impressive credentials that are sure to bring an exciting dynamic to the already anticipated project.

If your beloved protagonist suffered a tragic demise in the initial instalment, never fear! For Cameron has brought back Stephen Lang to reprise his role as Col. Quartich – who was last seen succumbing to two arrows that were lodged deep in his chest – across all four movies. The director himself is evidently enthused by this development; he conveyed his enthusiasm when speaking to Empire Online:

The interesting and captivating concept of the Avatar sequels is that it brings back the same beloved characters from the original movie, while also introducing new characters and transporting them to a myriad of unfamiliar settings. This allows viewers to join these familiar faces on an epic journey through worlds which they have never seen before, creating a truly unique experience.

Despite the fact that each movie in the franchise has introduced a variety of new characters, there is one constant throughout all four movies: the villain. It’s quite interesting to observe how this villain remains consistent and doesn’t change from movie to movie. We know Stephen Lang can deliver an incredible performance as this character and we anticipate nothing less than him knocking it out of the park with his portrayal.

WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?

The plotlines for the upcoming Avatar films remain a tightly guarded secret, but what we do know is that they will be set on Pandora, just like The Way of Water. In 2018, James Cameron provided an insight into the story’s general theme to Gizmodo; expressing his newfound perspective as a parent of five children and exploring what an Avatar family drama would look like. Although details are scarce and shrouded in mystery, it appears these movies promise to deliver an intriguing tale with plenty of surprises in store!

Even as far back as 2010, Vulture was reporting that Cameron had discussed his plans for Avatar 2 and the sequel’s focus. He revealed that part of his intention was to create a different environment than what viewers had seen in the first film; he wanted to explore a new setting within Pandora, one that would be distinct and unique.

I’m going to be dedicating my attention to the seas of Pandora, which will be as vibrant and varied, whimsical and creative as ever. I’m not suggesting that we won’t get a glimpse of what we’ve already seen; there’ll be more of that too! But rather than being set in a rainforest, this time it’s all about the ocean.

In James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, we witness the story of Sully (Worthington) and Neytiri (Saldana), with a particular emphasis on their family life and the experiences of their offspring. This film serves to emphasize how this couple has built a relationship based on love and mutual understanding, one in which they are able to nurture and protect their children as they grow. Undoubtedly, viewers will be inspired by the strong bond between these two characters as well as by the journey that each of their children must take in order to find themselves.

Going forward, it is highly probable that Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk, Kiri and Spider – five Na’vi characters from the blockbuster movie Avatar – will be featured more prominently in the future storylines. This means their presence will become increasingly significant as the narrative unfolds, allowing for further exploration of their unique characteristics and relationships to one another.

WHAT WERE THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES?

It is challenging to record footage using complex underwater motion-capture technologies. The issue with water, according to Cameron, is not the submerged portion but rather the point where the air meets the water and creates a moving mirror. Fundamentally, each task becomes ten times worse whenever you add water to it.

Cameron has stated that water would be featured in Avatar 4, 5, although the major focus will be on Avatar 2, and 3. The Way of Water actors have talked extensively about the rigorous training they underwent in order to film the challenging underwater sequences, with Kate Winslet surpassing Tom Cruise’s record for the longest breath held underwater while filming a scene.

WHEN WILL THEY COME OUT?

Avatar: The Way of Water was supposed to be released in cinemas on December 17, 2021, almost an entire dozen years after the first Avatar movie’s premiere. Sadly, production had to be suspended in New Zealand due to the coronavirus pandemic that began in March 2020, leading to a delay for the eagerly-anticipated film’s grand unveiling.

The highly anticipated Avatar 2 movie was finally released on December 16, 2022, after a long wait for fans. This initial sequel will be followed by three other sequels over the next six years, with Avatar 3 slated to release on December 2024, Avatar 4 hitting theatres in December 2026 and Avatar 5 set to arrive on December 2028.