Despite billions earned, studios hesitated about multiple 'Avatar' sequels
What's the story
James Cameron, the acclaimed director behind the Avatar franchise, recently revealed that he faced resistance from studio executives when he proposed expanding the number of sequels from three to four. The franchise took form after the unprecedented success of Avatar (2009), which grossed $2.9 billion worldwide. In an interview with Discussing Film, Cameron shared details about this pushback and his response.
Studio pushback
'What part of you getting another $2B is in question?'
Cameron revealed that the original plan was to develop three scripts for Avatar sequels, but it eventually turned into four. He explained that the script for Avatar: The Way of Water had to be split into two separate films, resulting in a total of five movies instead of four. Despite this change, he faced resistance from the studio. In response to their concerns, Cameron asked, "What part of you getting another chance to make $2 billion is in question here?"
Box office success
Cameron's confidence in 'Avatar' sequels
Cameron was confident about his counterargument, given the box office performance of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). The film grossed $2.3 billion globally, making it the third-highest-grossing movie of all time. Now, all eyes are on Avatar 3: Fire and Ash to see if it can surpass the $2 billion mark at the worldwide box office when it releases on December 19.
Sequel development
Cameron's experience with 'Avatar 4' script
Cameron also revealed that he has already shot footage for Avatar 4. However, whether he will return to finish the next sequel and continue into Avatar 5 depends on the success of Fire and Ash. He previously shared that Avatar 4 was the first sequel not to receive any notes from studio executives, indicating a high level of confidence in this installment.