Avatar sequel release dates pushed back multiple years by Disney!

Those waiting for James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar sequel saga are going to have to wait a bit longer than previously anticipated. Walt Disney Pictures just announced that the first sequel Avatar 2 has been pushed back a full year from December 18, 2020 to December 17, 2021. Avatar 3 has been pushed back two years December 17, 2021 to December 22, 2023. Avatar 4 will open two years after that on December 19, 2025 (originally December 20, 2024) and Avatar 5 will drop on December 17, 2027 (originally December 19, 2025).

Cameron had already revealed the caveat that they won’t make 4 and 5 if 2 and 3 aren’t successful. Whether all these date changes are being made to accommodate additional work on the films from the famously meticulous and budget-busting Cameron, or to allow room for other Disney films is not yet clear. Stay tuned for more info as it comes!

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Returning for 20th Century Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment‘s Avatar sequels are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald and Sigourney Weaver. Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Oona Chaplin and Michelle Yeoh are also joining the sequels. Cameron explained that Stephen Lang’s Colonel Miles Quaritch is coming back for all four sequels and will be the main villain throughout the story. Filming officially started on Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 on September 25, 2017.

Shortly after, James Cameron announced young cast members for the sequel, which include the Sully family and children from the Metkayina Na’vi clan who live near ocean reefs, led by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis). The only actor who will appear in live-action playing a non-CGI character is Jack Champion as Javier “Spider” Socorro, a human teen born at the Hell’s Gate military complex seen in the first film.

Released in 2009, the first Avatar film remains the highest-grossing film worldwide with over $2.7 billion in box office grosses. Titanic was previously the record holder with $2.186 billion worldwide.