AVATAR Sequels to Begin Production in Late 2014

The AVATAR sequels are officially on the horizon.

In an interview with Australian radio station Nova 96.9, Sam Worthington confirmed that production on AVATAR 2 is expected to begin in October 2014, with the third and fourth film on its heels. The three sequels are expected to be released in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

In Augus, Fox Filmed Entertainment chief Jim Gianopolis revealed to that, "Of course, Jim Cameron is finalizing the scripts- yes, that was plural- for the continuation of the saga that began with the highest grossing film in history- Avatar. The growing breadth and scale of Jim's magnificent fantasy world will come to life through three films, scheduled for release in December 2016, December 2017, and December 2018. We're confident these major cinematic events will amaze and enthrall audiences around the world."

The 2009 science fiction action film was written and directed by James Cameron and starred Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver.

The film was set in the mid-22nd century, when humans are mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na'vi - a humanoidspecies indigenous to Pandora. The film's title refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body with the mind of a remotely located human, and is used to interact with the natives of Pandora.