The news that Avatar’s sequels are being pushed back means that Zoe Saldaña will have been involved in the project for almost half her life – but the actress has seen the funny side.
Having waited 13 years for a sequel to the 2009 original, fans are again being asked to be patient following the news that release dates for further instalments are being pushed back.
Saldaña, who plays Neytiri in the blockbuster series, is now 44 and shared her reaction on Instagram to the news of the delay.
“Great! I’m gonna be 53 when the last Avatar comes out,” she wrote. “I was 27 when I shot the very first Avatar.”
Avatar: The Way of Water was a box office smash when it was finally released in December 2022, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of all time.
Director James Cameron had said he needed to allow technology to catch up with his vision as the reason for the delay between the first and second blockbusters. In the time between, the world had changed, with streaming becoming established, Disney buying Fox, which distributes the Avatar films, and Covid-19 putting cinemas in jeopardy. But box-office returns have shown there was a desire from audiences to return to the world of Pandora.
James Cameron has said he may not be behind the camera for instalments four and five as he will be in his late seventies by 2031.
Whether fans will come back in the same droves for further films remains to be seen but the success of the Way of Water has at least given the studio confidence to continue as planned.
Here is all we know – until things change!
When will Avatar films 3, 4 and 5 be released?
Upcoming ‘AVATAR’ movie release dates:
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) June 13, 2023
AVATAR 3 - December 2025
AVATAR 4 - December 2029
AVATAR 5 - December 2031 pic.twitter.com/mwSUmqUfF9
Under Disney’s new timeline, announced this week, Avatar 3 has had its premiere pushed back from 2024 to December 19, 2025.
This, in turn, has pushed back other planned releases to allow some breathing space and avoid Avatar fatigue – something that reportedly affected the Star Wars franchise’s returns.
Avatar 4 is now expected in December 2029, and the fifth and final film will be 2031.
Why have the films been delayed?
Each Avatar film is an exciting but epic undertaking that takes time to bring to the quality level we as filmmakers strive for and audiences have come to expect. The team is hard at work and can’t wait to bring audiences back to Pandora in December 2025. pic.twitter.com/DrFX01qzTa
— Jon Landau (@jonlandau) June 13, 2023
Avatar producer Jon Landau explained the hold-up on Twitter.
He wrote: “Each Avatar film is an exciting but epic undertaking that takes time to bring to the quality level we, as filmmakers, strive for and audiences have come to expect. The team is hard at work and can’t wait to bring audiences back to Pandora in December 2025.”
What have people been saying?
Like all Avatar announcements, this one has attracted some memes. Here are some of the best.
💙✨920 days until #Avatar3✨💙 pic.twitter.com/awbwXPNLJ7
— Sparkzy (@CeruleanSparkz) June 13, 2023
avatar 5 in 2031… pic.twitter.com/KEQ7LgmfMF
— al (@anyajfilm) June 13, 2023
lmao if she was born in 2009, Trinity's who life has basically taken place during the franchise. She was born, grew up, acted in the films, and could drink when 5 comes out
— Apathetic Lawler (@ApatheticLawler) June 14, 2023
The age every major actor in the Avatar franchise will be when Avatar 5 releases on December 19th, 2031.#AvatarTheWayOfWater #Avatar pic.twitter.com/eMbKgiwazb
— Pandoran Vault (@PandoranVault) June 13, 2023
