James Cameron has made waves by expanding the “Avatar” franchise from three sequels to four. In a recent interview with Discussing Film, he shared that this decision faced resistance from the studio.
Cameron originally planned three scripts. However, he decided to turn two of them into separate movies. This change moved the third film, now titled “Fire and Ash,” to fourth place in the lineup. Now, fans can expect a total of five films in the franchise.
Cameron recalled pushing back against the studio’s concerns. “What part of you getting another chance to make $2 billion is in question here?” he said, highlighting the financial success of the series. The original “Avatar,” released in 2009, remains the highest-grossing film ever, raking in $2.9 billion globally.
The most recent installment, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” also performed fantastically, earning $2.3 billion and securing its place as the third highest-grossing film. Now, all eyes are on “Fire and Ash” to see if it can also surpass the $2 billion milestone when it releases on December 19.
Interestingly, Cameron has already filmed parts of “Avatar 4.” However, the completion of both “Avatar 4” and “Avatar 5” hinges on the success of the upcoming film. In a previous conversation with Collider, he revealed that the fourth film’s script didn’t receive a single note from studio executives. “When I turned in the script for 4, the studio executive wrote back, ‘Holy f***,’” Cameron stated. The absence of notes showed that they were excited about where the story was heading.
This evolution in the franchise reflects a shift in Hollywood’s view on sequels. Once viewed skeptically, franchises like “Avatar” now prove that ambitious storytelling can lead to significant box office success. With ongoing conversations about climate change and indigenous rights, the themes within “Avatar” also resonate more strongly with today’s audience.
As fans eagerly await “Fire and Ash,” it’ll be interesting to see how the franchise continues to grow and what new stories Cameron will explore. For more insights on the impact of “Avatar” on film and culture, you can check out articles on NPR or Variety.
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