Great news for "Avatar" fans, but not for those hoping to see director James Cameron's take on romantic comedies. The Oscar-winning King of the World told the New York Times that he's only in "the 'Avatar' business" now.
"I’m making 'Avatar 2,' 'Avatar 3,' maybe 'Avatar 4,'" Cameron revealed during an interview about the Chinese film industry. "I’m not going to produce other people’s movies for them. I’m not interested in taking scripts."
While Cameron admitted that the all-"Avatar," all-the-time career arc might seem a "bit restricted," he says the films allow him to say "everything" he needs to say about "the state of the world." He'll also continue to produce documentaries.
While the comments might seem surprising, looking at Cameron's resume tells you they aren't. The director has released just two feature films since 1997 ("Titanic" and "Avatar"), and a handful documentaries ("Aliens of the Deep," "Ghosts of the Abyss," "Expedition: Bismark," "Titanic: The Final World with James Cameron"). As a producer, Cameron has been slightly more active; beyond his own films, he's also handled Steven Soderbergh's "Solaris" in 2002 and the underwater cave dive adventure "Sanctum" in 2011. (Additionally, his tireless work extolling the virtues of 3D filmmaking has convinced some heavyweight Hollywood directors like Martin Scorsese and Michael Bay to use the format in new and exciting ways.)
As for the "Avatar" sequels, don't hold your breath waiting for them to arrive. Producer Jon Landau said recently that "Avatar 2" might not hit theaters until 2016; the film was initially set for a 2014 release.
For more on Cameron, including his thoughts on the state of the Chinese film industry, head over the the Times website.
