The sequel to the most successful movie of all time, “Avatar,” is set to begin this coming April in New Zealand but the film appears to be uncertain to be released in time for Christmas Day of next year.

“Avatar 2” was originally scheduled for release later this year but since critically-acclaimed producer, writer, and producer James Cameron wanted to make the most of the modern technology in the film, it was eventually pushed back to a December 25, 2017 release date.

Cameron, later on, said that he would do the three sequels – “Avatar 2,” Avatar 3,” and “Avatar 4” – in one sitting which was also the main reason why the “Avatar 2” release date was pushed to December next year.

It has been reported then that the next two sequels of the “Avatar” franchise will come out exactly one year after each predecessor. So “Avatar 3” will come out on December 25, 2018, while “Avatar 4” will be released on December 25, 2019.

However, the December 25 release date of “Avatar 2” has been recently taken off from the 2017 release schedule of 20th Century Fox, which is producing the movie. Thus, “Avatar 2” now remains without a new official release date, details the Lawyer Herald.

It remains to be seen whether the disappearance of “Avatar 2” from the release schedule of 20th Century Fox for next year was just temporary or for another push back.

Assuming that “Avatar 2” would not come out to theaters as planned on December 25 next year, it would sure douse cold water anew on the excitement of fans on the movie since its predecessor movie came out way back in 2009.

Ready to roll the cameras

Based on latest reports, filming and principal photography for “Avatar 2” will begin on April 15 and it shall take place in New Zealand and Manhattan Beach, California.

The film’s new plot shall reportedly follow Jake Sully’s permanent embodiment of his Na’vi avatar and his new life with Princess Neytiri. Jake is to be portrayed by Sam Worthington while Zoe Saldana will reprise her role as Princess Neytiri.

Sigourney Weaver shall also make a comeback as Dr. Grace Augustine despite her character already dead in the first film. But according to James Cameron, nobody dies in a science-fiction film so it would be interesting how he intends to bring back Sigourney Weaver’s character back to life in “Avatar 2.”

There are also reports that the plot of “Avatar 2” shall focus on the children of Jake Sully and Neytiri and that Sully will soon be chieftain of their tribe while Neytiri will serve as a priestess, details the Christian Post.

Sequels can stand on their own

James Cameron has come out recently to say that the three upcoming sequels of “Avatar,” the most successful movie of all time, can actually stand alone on their own.

Considering that the three films are sequels, it is hard to fathom what Cameron meant when he said that “Avatar 2,” “Avatar 3,” and “Avatar 4” can stand on their own. But he did add that there would be a bigger story that would link all the movies including the first.

Critics actually cited what Cameron meant as meta-narrative, which means that while each film will have their own plotline and narrative, they will have a much bigger story in the background that shall link them all together as one.

Cameron also announced that the pre-production work, particularly the technical requirements for the three sequels, has already been completed.

He said that the computer-generated graphics involving the characters and the Pandora environment is now ready.

He also hinted that “Avatar 2” will introduce new worlds within Pandora, and even new alien species will be seen.

The director said that they have also finished the creatures and the landscapes, and the new worlds within the world of Pandora.

The scripts for the three sequels have already been completed and pre-production work is almost complete.