Like most film productions around the globe, the “Avatar” sequels temporarily suspended production due to the ongoing global pandemic.
The project is primarily being shot in New Zealand where health and safety production protocols have been endorsed in the past few days and cameras can start rolling again. Production hasn’t officially resumed as yet, but it’s likely too soon.
Ahead of that, Oscar-winning director James Cameron opened up about the long-in development sequels and his frustration at not being able to continue production as planned:
“It’s putting a major crimp in our stride here. I wanna get back to work on Avatar, which right now we’re not allowed to do under state emergency laws or rules. So it’s all on hold right now. We were about to shoot down in New Zealand, so that got pushed. We’re trying to get back to it as quick as we can.
On the bright side, New Zealand seems to have been very effective in controlling the virus and their goal is not mitigation, but eradication, which they believe that they can do with aggressive contact tracing and testing. So there’s a very good chance that our shoot might be delayed a couple of months, but we can still do it. So that’s good news.”
Cameron seems confident that the setback won’t impact the film’s current December 2021 release date. Even as production is on hold, Weta’s digital work on the film is still underway.
Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Jemaine Clement, and Oona Chaplin join returning cast members include Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald, and Sigourney Weaver in the new film – the first of four sequels targeting a release throughout this decade.
Source: Empire Online
