An Avatar sequel was always likely – there was too much money spent on the technology for the studio to plan just one film before walking away. And then Avatar broke all box office records, made its budget back many times over, and the probability of a sequel rose to 100 percent.
However, one sequel is one thing, turning it into a trilogy is another, but having four sequels, five movies in the series altogether? That’s quite an ambitious plan, if it’s even a plan at all. Certainly, it’s a thought which has gone through lead actor Sam Worthington’s mind, as he told Access Hollywood:
“I’m starting to think we’re going to do ‘Avatar 3, 4, 5’. But that’s the thing, we’re only going to do it if Jim [Cameron] can find someone to challenge him because he’s not the type of guy that just dives in lightly.”
“Jim will only do a movie if it’s a challenge for him and if he can revolutionize something. I know with Jim, he has to find his own personal challenge on it. So we’ll wait and see.”
“I signed for a couple [of sequels] but I’ll work with Jim for a bucket of fish.”
It’s standard for actors to agree to make three movies when they sign a contract for one that’s envisioned as having franchise potential. But that doesn’t mean those movies ever get made. As for four or five? We’re talking Police Academy and Saw territory. Which isn’t really a good thing, as the quality always dips later on.
I can’t see Cameron making any more than two or possibly three Avatar movies. It just doesn’t seem like his style. Maybe the series will continue on after that with different directors but I’m guessing we’ll all be sick of Pandora and its inhabitants by that stage.
