The Avatar 4 decision….

With Avatar 3 (or ‘Avatar Fire and Ash’ as its actually titled) having completed its theatrical run earning $1.485 billion significantly less than the second films $2.3billion haul and half the original films $2.923 billion. And there’s been much debate as well as speculation too about a fourth film. Well it would appear that there an Avatar 4 decision has been made.

At the at the Saturn Awards in March director James Cameron that the potential planned fourth and fifth “Avatar” films going ahead is “very likely” despite nothing official having come from Disney who will be financing the films. But Cameron has been quite clear about a fourth and fifth Avatar film being a both or neither option. But with Disney now with a new CEO Josh D’Amaro the films futures have yet to be clarified.

But into the mix is producer Rae Sanchini who has spoken about the Avatar 4 decision saying,

“Right now we’re figuring out the schedule. We’re working hard on it right now, budgeting, scheduling, planning, building out our new pipeline for them. As far as we’re concerned, we’re full speed ahead.”

But also affecting the Avatar 4 decision…

It’s that word ‘budgeting’ that is pivotal as these are tremendously expensive films with the third film alone costing $400m. So getting those production costs significantly lower would seem to be key linked to the technology which has streamlined further over the past 15 years.

Further to this are the films release dates which are set at 2029 and 2031 with Sanchini suggesting that those titles are ‘tentative’ and will be updated shortly. Cameron has already shot some of the fourth film whilst he was shooting Avatar 3 but quite how much is unknown.

related feature : News of Avatar 6…..and 7 too!

related feature : Avatar Fire and Ash – the stars turn up for the London premiere