'Avatar' Sequel: James Cameron Plans To Film At Deepest Part Of The Ocean, Mariana Trench

The Australian:

HOLLYWOOD director James Cameron is preparing to dive to the deepest point of the oceans as part of research for a sequel to Avatar, his 3-D epic.

He has commissioned Australian engineers to build a deep sea submersible which can reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench - 11,000m down in the western Pacific - after deciding to set the film in the turbulent waters of Pandora, an alien moon.

The vessel will be fitted with 3-D cameras designed by Cameron so that he can take unprecedented footage of such depths and, if he wants to, fill it with digitally created monsters for Avatar 2.

Read the whole story: The Australian

Comments

[dnb310]

02:48 AM on 09/18/2010

Seems to me like a colossal waist of recourses. Would it really add anything to the film? Maybe yes maybe no, But I can't help think that money could be better spent.

[Bike Commuter]

12:00 PM on 09/15/2010

I tend to admire a man who chooses to use his wealth in such unconventional ways. Much more interesting than buying $100 million houses, $50 million yachts, and hundreds of Ferrari's (of course Cameron may have all of that too for all I know).

[Matthew Harrold]

11:36 AM on 09/15/2010

Does Avatar really need a sequel? He's already ripped off Dances with Wolves. What's it going to be next, The Abyss? Not even Cameron can sink so low (Arf!) as to rip off his own films.

[ZSV]

11:17 AM on 09/15/2010

I like his environmental stance these days.... Though I do not like his distributors...
No 3d Blu Ray except for panasonic customers and only panasonic 3d tv customers
next year after a re-release with less than 10 mins of footage in the theaters? Not cool

[convit]

07:34 AM on 09/15/2010

What's truly amazing is that, if Cameron succeeds, he will tie the world record for the deepest manned dive. And perhaps more amazing is the fact that that this year marked the 50th anniversary of that record dive.

How is it possible that we as a nation abandoned this kind of research of the ocean's depths? If an individual like Cameron can commission some guys to build a sub capable of making the dive, then cost couldn't have been a major factor, especially when you compare it to the NASA budget.

[RavenWest]

10:32 AM on 09/15/2010

He's standing on the shoulders of giants here, the leg work and testing for such a device has been carried out by scientific groups the world over, all he needs to do is pay for a prototype and a boat.

[maslin]

01:25 AM on 09/15/2010

Holy ^&% that sounds like fun.

What a job!

[VikingQuest]

09:46 PM on 09/14/2010

"preparing to dive to the deepest point of the oceans as part of research for a sequel to Avatar"

Research for a movie that is basically a cartoon . . . hmm.

[VikingQuest]

09:45 PM on 09/14/2010

You are aware that this movie is brought to you by the Saudi Prince that owns 7% of News Corp right?

[TQQ]

09:40 PM on 09/14/2010

Boring.

[justan olnamvet]

07:48 PM on 09/14/2010

I haven't seen a 3D movie in almost 60 years. Have they changed that much since they came and died then?

[MCJanes]

12:18 AM on 09/15/2010

Avatar itself was a pretty underwhelming movie, plot-wise. The 3D however, was really extraordinary. The catch is, you need to see it on a big screen, and most importantly, you need to check your brain at the door. Don't pay attention...just watch it, and you will be impressed.

[maslin]

01:29 AM on 09/15/2010

I think I could safely argue that Avatar on IMAX 3D is a completely different kind of movie than anything that has come before. The plot is enough to carry you into the influence of the CGI, and the CGI is absolutely mind-blowing.

If you can't see it in 3D, I am not sure I would recommend it.

[BlooSee]

07:34 PM on 09/14/2010

This is a pretty wild concept!

For those of you curious, here's the location of the proposed shoot on BlooSee: http://bit.ly/9poYtB

[Jenna Hollis]

06:02 PM on 09/14/2010

I have high expectations for Cameron. It better have the same or even better quality, and the same actors. If that does not happen then the movie is going to suck and its just going to be another lame squeal.

[pewty]

02:01 AM on 09/15/2010

"It better" ??? OR youll do what? Hold your breath till you turn blue? Not go see it?

[Jenna Hollis]

11:21 PM on 10/11/2010

or it will be sad cause it shows that it will be a waste or money and prove once again that movies are getting worse.

[Telemachus]

05:35 PM on 09/14/2010

I hope Mr. Cameron will use some of his money and scientific passion to establish a long-term study of the BP oil spill and its effects.

[Telemachus]

05:36 PM on 09/14/2010

Sorry, "BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill". It's not their first and probably not their last. I just hope it was their biggest.

[BebeLush]

05:02 PM on 09/14/2010

Isn't that where he filmed Titanic? Just sayin'.

[MalteseTiger]

05:05 PM on 09/14/2010

Wrong ocean

[MCJanes]

12:22 AM on 09/15/2010

I'm pretty the Mariana Trench is as far away from where the Titanic sank that you can get, without leaving earth itself. Basically the exact opposite side of the globe.

[Rational Voice]

04:08 PM on 09/14/2010

Why??? That's going to cost how much? But there's no light down there? You could dive down 100 feet and get the same effect, I'm sure... Seems like a waste, and huge risk to me -- all for a movie -- a piece of entertainment. For scientific research I could see doing this, sure, but for a movie? We have some seriously twisted priorities.

[BulgyLamb]

05:31 PM on 09/14/2010

It's not twisted priorities. The money is simply available in major motion pictures. If you think back, was there ever a documentary film which grossed as much $$ as even the modest entertainment movies? In my opinion, if the money is there and someone has a lust for adventure, then why not. Its not like Avatar was actually a good movie. Maybe this time Cameron can submarine attack some deep water corals for unobtanium.

[wilray]

01:28 AM on 09/15/2010

I agree. At a certain point things become pitch black, and it doesn't matter how far down you go it remains that way except for some biolumenescence. I could throw Cameron in a dark closet toss in some glow worms and Boom - research done at a fraction of the cost.