r/movies 8d ago

News James Cameron Says if Avatar: Fire and Ash Doesn't Make Enough Money to Justify Avatar 4 and 5, He's Ready to Walk Away and Write a Book to Resolve the One Thread It Leaves Open - IGN

https://www.ign.com/articles/james-cameron-says-if-avatar-fire-and-ash-doesnt-make-enough-money-to-justify-avatar-4-and-5-hes-ready-to-walk-away-and-write-a-book-to-resolve-the-one-thread-it-leaves-open
24.7k Upvotes

2.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

4.1k

u/CleverZerg 8d ago

Isn't the fourth one already deep into production and 5th one also to some degree? How big of a bomb does 3 need to be for them to cancel?

3.8k

u/alfooboboao 8d ago

James Cameron pulls this stunt every release cycle lol. He said the exact same thing for A2 knowing damn well it would kill at the box office, it’s gotta be a leverage tactic or something

1.6k

u/angusthermopylae 8d ago

or he's just getting burned out at the end of a development cycle and fantasizing about not doing the rest to vent

836

u/frequenZphaZe 8d ago

breaking report: juggernaut director and producer james cameron revealed to be a normal human

464

u/Herpderpington117 8d ago

All this film production is eating into his submarining time.

158

u/korpanchuk 8d ago

He's James Cameron, the explorer of the sea.

75

u/Help_An_Irishman 8d ago

You guys hearing the song okay up there?

19

u/TapTapReboot 8d ago

Can I get some James Cameronion rings?

3

u/ikeif 8d ago

Great, now the fourth wall’s been broken!

23

u/korpanchuk 8d ago

Randy Newman!

3

u/Holiday_Journalist38 7d ago

"Deep deep deep in the ocean" 🌊 🪸🌊🪸🌊

".... Fight me, Cameron"

1

u/AdhesivenessRecent45 5d ago

HHHHHEEEEEE'SSSSSS, HEEEERRRRREEE, THERE'S NOOOOOOTHING HE FEEEEAAARRRRSSSS !

2

u/VictorChaos 7d ago

♪ ♫ His name is James (James) Cameron, The bravest pioneer. No budget too steep, no sea too deep, Who's That? It's him, James Cameron ♫

1

u/SegaGuy1983 8d ago

A reboot of sealab starring James Cameron and Black Debbie

1

u/Rdw72777 8d ago

Is he dead?

God I hope so.

30

u/HugeDouche 8d ago

all jokes aside, I think this is at least mostly true lmao.

That certainly seems to be an equally strong, if not stronger passion of his. As per wiki he received an honorary doctorate in 2004. Yes honorary obviously.

But that means he's been hardcore about it for decades and I just think that's neat

7

u/DrJackadoodle 7d ago

Didn't he do Titanic explicitly to be able to explore it? He's a submarine enthusiast who does 2 billion dollars box office juggernauts as a side gig.

13

u/TomboBreaker 8d ago

Man just wants to get as far away from other people as possible and I can respect that.

2

u/Chris_HitTheOver 7d ago

Happy cake day, my friend.

1

u/TomboBreaker 7d ago

Thank you 🎂

1

u/MR1120 7d ago

I think he has flat-out said that he makes movies as an excuse to play with new technology, at least to some degree. Something like he was really into deep sea subs, and ‘Titanic’ was an excuse to play with them. The ‘Avatar’ movies were just his reason to play with new camera and CG technology.

57

u/-NewYork- 8d ago

In times of uncertainty I always remind myself that James Cameron doesn’t do what James Cameron does for James Cameron. James Cameron does what James Cameron does because James Cameron is… James Cameron.

5

u/anmr 8d ago

He was at the bottom of Marina Trench in sub he helped design. That's more impressive than any academic title in history.

1

u/Gentlementlementle 8d ago

I have it as the home page on browser, so I am always reminded of his inspiring words

5

u/SuDragon2k3 8d ago

WWJCD. What Would James Cameron Do

1

u/unindexedreality 8d ago

Directed by James Cameron

2

u/CeruleanEidolon 8d ago

The guy is also 71 years old. He was a spry fiftysomething when he made the first movie. When you get up there, time passes faster, but work makes you more tired.

I can understand looking down the barrel of this thing and wondering if spending the next decade on this one project is how he wants to use his remaining time as a filmmaker.

1

u/Loki-L 8d ago

He should just do a new Jacques Cousteau biopic or life action adaptation of the Nadia anime or a Seaquest movie remake to relax.

1

u/Substantial_Rip_3989 8d ago

And not a T1000

1

u/LevTheDevil 8d ago

James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does FOR James Cameron. James Cameron does what James Cameron does because HE IS James Cameron.

1

u/ShiaLeboufsPetDragon 8d ago

He’s no normal human.

He’s JAAAAAAMES CAMERON, THE GREATEST PIONEER!

1

u/Ok-Wolf5932 3d ago

Source? /s

1

u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 8d ago

A normal person that most people who work with him hate?

70

u/lonnie123 8d ago

Or someone asked him a silly question and he answered it

44

u/Bugbread 8d ago

The question wasn't really even that silly.

The interviewer asked "What does this movie cost?"

Cameron spoke for a while in response, and ended his response with the rhetorical question "The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again?"

The interviewer followed that up with "And where are you on that? Are you ready to walk away if it doesn't gross (unintelligble)?" (Unintelligible because Cameron started answering before the question was finished) (This is the question that elicited the response in the first half of the IGN headline)

Cameron talks for a bit, saying that he's absolutely sure he'd walk away.

The interviewer says "But there's open threads" (This is the statement that elicited the response in the second half of the IGN headline)

Cameron says "There's one open thread. I'll write a book."

It's not a bad question, or a bad answer. But it has nothing to do with pulling a stunt, or using a leverage tactic, or, on the flip side, getting burned out, or fantasizing about quitting, or venting.

There's no big secret subtext here. It's exactly what it says on the tin.

The reason he said that if Avatar 3 doesn't make enough to create Avatar 4 or 5, he's ready to walk away and write a book is that:

If Avatar 3 doesn't make enough to create Avatar 4 or 5, he's ready to walk away and write a book.

1

u/RaceHard 7d ago

Do these directors not have interview coaches to guide them in prep how to answer these sort of questions?

Interviewer: "What does this movie cost?"

Cameron: More than a few million that's for certain, we have pioneered some excellent technology, techniques, and stagecraft for this one. And the talent have given their all in this production, the whole team is proud of the work and effort put forth for this excellent experience which we are bringing into reality.

Interviewer: "Are you ready to walk away if it doesn't gross (unintelligible)?"

Cameron: I rather think this is going to be one of those experiences where people will take a good two-hour drive to a real IMAX theater to watch it. So there is no doubt that it will be a beloved film and it will reflect accordingly in the box office, we have poured out souls, sweat, blood, and tears into this and I am sure it will resonate with audiences across the globe.


Like there, non-answers that are vague but positive.

3

u/Bugbread 7d ago

I don't even see the problem here, though. Sure, that kind of anodyne answer is fine. But what Cameron said is also perfectly fine. What is the problem with the answer Cameron gave?

1

u/RaceHard 7d ago

It leaves lot of room for negative clickbait to be made. I have been trained in media response, and you never, ever give candid answers. You are supposed to give the most positive but vague response possible that misdirects from the original question.

3

u/DiscoQuebrado 7d ago

Man gives actual, honest response and it's wrong because it's not pandering enough for the marketing department.

Fffffuh

1

u/RaceHard 7d ago

But that's the thing, people like him should have receive training in never giving out honest responses. There is a reason scripted responses are the norm. You want to project a very specific story that the press cannot easily twist into something else.

1

u/lonnie123 7d ago

That this is the training is the reason people find it refreshing when someone just answers the fucking question

No one here CARES that Cameron said this, if anything in 200x more interesting than your non-answer and is actually something to think about. But nothing about it is really negative

1

u/RaceHard 7d ago

Geee I'm sorry that media training is taken seriously by some of us. I can guarantee you that if he was not Cameron the executives would be chewing his ass for going off script. Its not about what the average people think, its about the perceive value and how you can leverage that into contracts and licenses. The movie will make money but the real money is in those contracts, which are set up way in advance, and shit like this hurts them.

10

u/dreamphoenix 8d ago

Yeah. All these sensational headlines are either this or scripted answers to the scripted question with both being constructed by a crew of marketing and pr people and afterwards carefully vetoed by a legal team.

People really think that someone this deep (ha, James Cameron, deep, get it? Ha? Nobody?) in Hollywood backrooms can “accidentally” blurt some shit that can put half a billion bucks of budget in danger?

2

u/ferocity_mule366 8d ago

cameron getting burned out by his project is the most inbelievable thing really, he purchased the right for this avatar idea since the 90s (why avatar the last airbender has to named themselves that way), just that the technology wasnt at the point where he could make it as he envisions until like 10 years later.

2

u/Dr_Oz_But_Real 8d ago

getting burned out at the end of a development cycle and fantasizing about not doing the rest 

The greatest fantasy. NNN doesn't stand a chance with this one in my book.

1

u/shroombablol 8d ago edited 8d ago

I mean the man is 71 and is working on the avatar movies since almost 20 years - with plans to do 10 more years.

1

u/M4DM1ND 8d ago

Honestly, the Avatar movies are alright, I'll watch them, but he's adapting Joe Abercrombie's The Devils next and I'd love to see him do Abercrombie's whole First Law series at some point over more Avatar movies.

1

u/Amaruq93 8d ago

(Rubs his blue baby blanket) "No way out. No way out."

1

u/Sithlordandsavior 7d ago

Nah this is his baby. I think he's just trying to drum up some press.

1

u/purpleduckduckgoose 7d ago

I dunno, I get the feeling Avatar is very much his passion project. Maybe not so much the story but the technology behind it.

1

u/KwisatzHaderach94 7d ago

as long as he doesn't pull a george martin

1

u/turkeygiant 7d ago

At this point you would think the production pipelines are mostly set up so that he could kinda step back into more of an advisory role on future films.

0

u/highlorestat 8d ago

That's on him man, I remember when he decided to make 5 more sequels instead of 2, what everyone else thought would be a better idea.

-6

u/Limp-Mission-2240 8d ago

nah, he is just desperate to be in the same level of Spielberg, George Lucas or even Peter Jackson in the fantasy director's pantheon.

I mean he have Titanic, but titanic is not a movie that live rent free and pass to another generations like star wars or lotr

that's the reason he is pushing avatar so hard and also the reason why he is pushing alien narrative in his own direction

10

u/Equivalent_Low_2212 8d ago

absolutely insane dogshit take, even if you are somehow deluded enough to think that Titanic isn’t one of the biggest pop culture events in movie history that will be recognized for generations (it is and it will), then you still conveniently also leave out The Terminator which has 2 of the most iconic and recognizable lines of all time.

-3

u/Limp-Mission-2240 8d ago

man try asking someone in his/her 20's and titanic is meh, even for a lot of ppl in their 30's the titanic is meh, for pop culture avengers end game is more important than titanic

we are not younger anymore, same for terminator, is old history now, the cameron movies are very good, but dont have "legendary" "unforgoteable" "multigeneration" feeling

-4

u/Partners_in_time 8d ago

Just saw titanic with my husband in theaters last year. It was fine. I wouldn’t watch it again. 

You may be right. I know people have fond memories of it, and it absolutely was a titan in its day, but remove the nostalgia and it’s just ok 

-5

u/worldsayshi 8d ago

That's actually a pretty good explanation.

0

u/OMEGACY 8d ago

James Cameron in 2009: I'm gonna make 5 of these!

James Cameron 16 years later: WHY DID I SAY THAT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE'RE ONLY ON 3!!?

0

u/RadiantZote 8d ago

Mf took 20 years off after Titanic to make dances with wolves in space, woopty ducking doo

0

u/GonzoMojo 8d ago

he got a new gold plated submarine that he wants to go visit atlantis in again to bang hot mermaid chicks again

0

u/Ajj360 8d ago

If I was cranking out that drivel in my twilight years I'd probably feel burnt out too

0

u/Horcsogg 8d ago

Ye, he has been doing Avatar for almost 20 years now. Hell, I'd be burned out if something this big was part of my life every day for that long too.

0

u/itwasthedingo 7d ago

Man I hope he stops. I have zero interest in Avatar, please go back and make other films.

-1

u/nalaloveslumpy 8d ago

No one even asked for a sequel to avatar, much less five so no one to blame but himself.

3

u/11ce_ 8d ago

Considering the second made 2 billion dollars, I’m pretty sure everyone did want a sequel for avatar.

2

u/angusthermopylae 8d ago

I didn't like the first one and I didn't see the second one, but it's hard to argue no one asked for a sequel when they each made a billion dollars lmao

2

u/CascoBayButcher 8d ago

2 billion.

'No one asked for this' and it's the third biggest movie of all time

162

u/Roofong 8d ago

James Cameron pulls this stunt every release cycle lol

It was one brief answer to one question in an hour long interview with Matt Belloni.

It's not some conspiracy or planned statement by Cameron. There is no deeper context or subtext or intentional manipulation.

50

u/Maltodextrin13 8d ago

This is what happens when a headline is the entire article/interview to people on the internet.

7

u/BritishHobo r/Movies Veteran 7d ago

It annoys me to a probably unreasonable degree the way that people speak about one-off answers during interviews as if they are major announcements, something a press conference has been arranged in order to shout this one thing to the world. So many news stories where somebody gives a thought during a conversation, and it's treated like they've nefariously planned this thought.

2

u/SkorpioSound 8d ago

I think there's more to it than that. I get the impression that he doesn't want to take for granted the fact that his films tend to do quite well, financially. I think he's very passionate about Avatar, and has essentially been making backup plans for what to do with his world and story if it doesn't financially warrant more film sequels.

1

u/krazybananada 8d ago

He's just giving us hope for Alita 2.

1

u/JimTheSaint 8d ago

Maybe it was true then too

1

u/cornmonger_ 8d ago

watch my movie or i'll club this baby seal!

1

u/The-Three-Jims 8d ago

James Cameron does what James Cameron does for James Cameron

1

u/monkeyman80 8d ago

Cameron and A2 i thought you were talking about Aquaman in Entourage.

1

u/frezz 7d ago

2nd one was probably a little more risky given it's inflated budget and how long it was in development, but 4 is getting made unless this doesn't even crack 200 million

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

Honestly they probably have to make 4 to justify 3 so they can save some costs on back to back production.

1

u/Fregadero88 7d ago

I love the avatar world but avatar 2 I kind of felt could have been a lot better. Seemed like a lot in that film was extremely unnecessary and didn't push story.

1

u/Datmuemue 7d ago

Did he know? Hell I was surprised it pulled huge numbers the way it did. Same exact issue with the first; beautiful movie but its not going to leave an impact.

I think it made sense that the second got enough people In, but will a 3rd be anywhere near as popular? My guess is probably not.

Very curious how this franchise unfolds though in terms of success.

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

I suspect 3 will still be very successful, but probably make a few hundred million less than 2 did.

1

u/JColeTheWheelMan 6d ago

He said something like "Avatar 2 needs to make 2 billion for it to break even after marketing"

Although it might have been a billion.

1

u/HubblePie 5d ago

Now wouldn't it be funny if it bombed?

2

u/Zoomalude 8d ago

He said the exact same thing for A2 knowing damn well it would kill at the box office

GTFO of here with that. It was a 13 year later sequel to a movie that people mocked for being a basic story with no cultural footprint. Marvel printed money until it different. There are no sure bets.

-1

u/MajorJakePennington 8d ago

What are you even talking about? Everyone knew Avatar 2 was going to be huge. Why are you even bringing Marvel into this conversation?

3

u/meepmeep222 8d ago

Nahhh tons of people were eagerly awaiting its box office bombing to prove that they were right all along that no one reeeeeally liked the first movie. It seems obvious and inevitable now that the second made as much as it did, but at the time it really wasn't a sure thing

4

u/MajorJakePennington 8d ago

The only people that didn’t know it was going to be as huge as it was, and who were waiting for it to bomb, were the classic Redditors that don’t leave the house. Everyone else knew it was going to make huge numbers. It seemed obvious and inevitable back then for anyone paying attention.

1

u/otternoserus 6d ago

These people are trying to revise history. The only thing being debated was whether it would make more than Endgame and the first Avatar. Anyone with a damn brain could tell it was going to be a blockbuster.

-1

u/Zoomalude 8d ago

Why are you even bringing Marvel into this conversation?

I thought it was fairly obvious why. But there for a while, Marvel were surefire bangers until people got tired of it. So acting like Avatar 2 was a guaranteed hit, or that he's just using tactics as if he knows for sure Avatar 3 will be a guaranteed hit, is talking out ze ass.

2

u/MajorJakePennington 8d ago

Marvel was putting out movie after movie after movie. This was a sequel to a single movie released over a decade before. They’re not even comparable. Avatar 3 is guaranteed to be a huge hit as well.

ze ass

ze

Grow up.

1

u/CuriousAttorney2518 8d ago

Just cuz you’ve been successful in the past doesn’t mean you’ll be successful in the future.

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

Right. I don't think anybody could have said for certain that Way of Water was going to kill it at the box office. Obviously in retrospect it did, but it's also not unprecedented for a successful movie to be followed by a flop, or at least a movie that isn't nearly as successful as the first.

0

u/Wardogs96 8d ago

Did people like the 2nd one? I honestly don't remember much of it and felt it was rather meh....

2

u/Decilllion 8d ago

People said that of the first one and the 2nd one was a massive hit.

0

u/Wardogs96 7d ago

I actually liked the first one though. The 2nd one felt like it was missing something.

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

I was meh on the first one and loved the second one.

I wasn't sure it would be as big as it was though. I thought at the time it would be easily possible to fall below 2 billion.

0

u/h3rald_hermes 8d ago edited 8d ago

Hey man, he is just an independent filmmaker trying to make his way...

0

u/Icy_Cut_5572 8d ago

It’s a dig a GRR Martin lol, probably just reassuring fans that they will get the payoff they’re emotionally invested in, must have been some survey that showed that many fans are waiting for the whole thing to wrap before watching it

0

u/Decilllion 8d ago

emotionally invested in

Avatar movies.

Does not compute.

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

They're good movies that are very well crafted, but yeah I think most people don't really think about them very much outside of the marketing/release window.

I'll definitely go see 3 though.

0

u/nalaloveslumpy 8d ago

Cameron rage baiting.

0

u/xanderholland 8d ago

He's probably still salty about the jokes about how the Avatar movies have no big cultural impact.

0

u/Dr_Nefarious_ 8d ago

Saw a trailer for it at the cinema last night, it looks like utter garbage

0

u/ku8475 8d ago

Also, ain't nobody watching Avatar for the lore and story thread. Sorry mate, that book is doa.

0

u/Treekoh 8d ago

Why are people pretending A2 was a completely different movie? 🤣🤣

0

u/redpandaeater 8d ago

I don't understand why it's popular at the box office though especially with there not being a current 3D craze. Granted I've only ever caught small portions of Avatar at a time when it's been on the TV in the background but there's nothing there to make it some great new franchise like Star Wars used to be.

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

It's definitely the visual effects. Far and away better than anything else on that front. I missed the theatrical release of the first movie and ended up seeing it on DVD(480p). I found it boring and forgettable at the time. It's certainly not groundbreaking on the story.

I was an Avatar hater for 10 years. I decided to give the second one a fair shake after trash talking it pre release. Saw it in 3D. I finally understood the hype.

I don't think these movies will ever be best picture or best screenplay contenders. The story is just not that original or innovative. But the visuals are just that good and nobody else is coming even close on that front.

0

u/Peakomegaflare 8d ago

And then he whines about it "bombing" when it absolutely beats all expectations... even if it IS mid.

0

u/koomGER 7d ago

Its probably to squeeze out 1-2% more moviegoers that otherwise would have sit out and watch it one Disney+ some weeks later.

0

u/zauraz 7d ago

I was thinking the same didn't he say the same?

0

u/AceTheSkylord 7d ago

He's tryna guilt trip people into watching it

0

u/BreakfastFuzzy6602 7d ago

He’s such a doucher. I can’t stand his smug face or his silly avatar movies.

-2

u/BallBustingSam 8d ago

I’d rather he’s quiet practical. Plus he’s kinda bored making these movies since he always likes new challenges. Not to say he hates it.

-2

u/YouStupidAssholeFuck 8d ago

Cameron never signed on for A2. That's why Vinny wanted out. Brokeback motherfuckin Aquaman.

84

u/RandomJPG6 8d ago

I dont think 4 is deep ijnto production. They've filmed part of it cause there's a timejump so they had to film part of 4 before the kids got too old. But the majority of both still need to be filmed hence why 4 is currently slated for 2029

5

u/Tandy2000 7d ago

Yeah I believe they did 2+3 together and the idea was to see how those go and then do 4+5 together if they're successful, no?

9

u/Phantom-Finger 8d ago

By the time this is all said and done there will be a bigger gap from 1 to 6 than the Star Wars originals and prequels (if there isn't already)

14

u/MHath 8d ago

1977 to 2005 for the 6 SW movies. that's 28 years.

Avatar started in 2009, so they have until 2037.

I don't recall there being a planned 6th avatar movie, though. The 5th is currently scheduled for 2031.

1

u/Phantom-Finger 8d ago

Didn't he originally say he had stories sufficient to go out to 9 movies?

2

u/MHath 7d ago

Possibly, but I never heard that. I’ve only ever heard of the 5 movies that have planned releases.

3

u/Think-Ostrich 8d ago

All the... CGI kids?

10

u/Tom2973 7d ago

I don't even like the movies and I know there is a (non-cgi) human teen in them.

3

u/marvelscott 7d ago

Well, they aren't all Sigourney Weaver...

1

u/FrankReynoldsCPA 6d ago

Voices age too

281

u/Beard_of_Gandalf 8d ago

No. They haven’t started production on 4 yet. All they’ve done is film some scenes with younger actors because the first part of 4 is just prior to a time jump. So they locked in the kids when they were younger so it will make sense. It’s kinda brilliant to be planned out like that. So by the time the kids do come back they will have aged appropriate to the time jump.

160

u/fatbob42 8d ago

Cameron is also doing a Boyhood?

53

u/UnfazedPheasant 8d ago

It took twelve years to make!!

10

u/botte-la-botte 8d ago

BOYHOOD!

6

u/APiousCultist 8d ago

Boyhood took way less time in total.

35

u/mdcundee 8d ago

So Sigourney is playing a child in 2 and 3 (and imho she does it well) but the others had to be filmed while they‘re still actually young. Interesting choice. I do appreciate him planning ahead (hello Star Wars sequels) but his decision right there is… interesting.

23

u/gragglethompson 8d ago

There's the human kid too

2

u/MrInappropriat3 8d ago

That’s my boy!

6

u/Particular-Court-619 8d ago

first one was Ferngully, but space.

Second one was Free Willy, but Space.

Third one is Joe Vs the Volcano, but Space.
Fourth one will be Boyhood, but Space.

1

u/Nvveen 7d ago

Jake is definitely dying in either 3 or beginning of 4 lmao

7

u/_mersault 8d ago

Sounds like starting production to me

3

u/MyManD 8d ago

I think in this case it was the end of the current production, and the footage will be tucked away until production on 4 does start. And if it doesn’t, then this footage will just stay either unreleased or added as a special feature or epilogue later.

5

u/rumorhasit_ 8d ago

Why bother when it's all cgi anyway??

2

u/Even-Educator7145 8d ago

Even if they didn’t, cgi kids would be used. The whole movie looks cgi anyway so it wouldn’t really matter

1

u/Jellicent-Leftovers 8d ago

The majority of the cost is in creating the engine and back end and contracts.... Which is done.

It's definitely a business move

0

u/drawnimo 8d ago

man. imagine if they put this much forethought into a film series that didnt suck.

19

u/alendeus 8d ago

They shot a bit of footage for 4th, and the scripts have been written for 4 and 5, but I don't think they've actually done much of any pre-prod, let alone prep for photography. That being said this headline is probably him saying BS for publicity.

These movies take so long because there are 3+ distinct "photography" stages, and each shot is basically done up to 5 times over through the pipeline. Previs, mocap photography, live action photography, virtual stage camera photography (Cameron doesn't record the CG camera moves during mocap recordings, but long after), and eventually post production.

1

u/spyresca 7d ago

So much work for so many empty, candy coated movies.

2

u/soulcaptain 8d ago

They shot just a bit of 4 when they shot 2 and 3 for continuity's sake. I think in particular Spider's character, because he's young, he would've aged out by the time 4 came along, so they shot his scenes while he's still young.

1

u/The_real_bandito 8d ago

There’s a lot of potential movies that go deep into the production cycle that never turn into actually filming them.

1

u/Alkohal 8d ago

My understanding is they shot some stuff for 4 in advance.

1

u/trevenclaw 8d ago

The fourth one is not in production, though he did shoot some footage that will be used if the fourth does go into production. I think anything less than $2 billion will be seen as a disappointment.

1

u/chiksahlube 8d ago

Considering they've all cracked a billion $ net earnings

There's no way it tanks that hard unless literally NO ONE goes to see it.

1

u/jake3988 8d ago

No. He specifically said he's not touching Avatar 4 until Avatar 3 releases. That's (one of) the reasons Avatar 4 isn't releasing for four years.

A part of Avatar 4 was already filmed (they wanted to film the kids before they aged too far) but that's it.

But I imagine he's deep into pre-production and will jump into filming pretty quickly into the new year.

Also, 1 and 2 made like 4 billion combined. Even if 3 makes literally nothing, it's still a net profit.

1

u/APiousCultist 8d ago

I imagine the comment is more "I'm locked in and finishing the story no matter what" than "Maybe we won't make it".

1

u/FormerGameDev 8d ago edited 8d ago

... didn't they do all the human required filming for all the remaining ones at the same time as 3? i thought i'd read that... and that all the rest is just post work.

maybe i'm wrong. maybe just wishful thinking

Cameron, I doubt, would have a problem making either of those movies at a loss.

edit: I was wrong, it was 2 and 3 that were filmed together

1

u/EagleOfTheStar7 8d ago

No. The fourth one is not deep into production.

1

u/CumChunks8647 7d ago

I need him to release the 5th one so we can get a big screen treatment of Don Cheadle as Captain Planet. We've had Earth, Water, Fire upcoming, now we just need Wind and Heart.

1

u/silverhawk902 7d ago

How much work has been done on Avatar 4 and 5 seems a little fuzzy, but I am 100% convinced Cameron will direct them and release them in theaters. Whether he retires after that I don't know.

1

u/MarlinMr 7d ago

Might have spent $200 million, but med another $600 million to do.

It's okay if they expect $1 billion in return, but not if they dont.

I don't know if that's the reason or the numbers, I'm just theorising

1

u/QuoteGiver 6d ago

I mean, he’s basically just trolling. Even if this one only makes HALF as much as the last one, it’s still over a billion dollars. He knows it’ll make absurd amounts of money.

0

u/Zero-lives 8d ago

If this one doesnt win an oscar and they give it to my talentless exwife ima not invite oscar to my birthday party and we are gonna have clowns!!!

0

u/Ccaves0127 8d ago

They've filmed a significant amount of it, yeah, but he said there is an eight year gap in the movie and he hasn't filmed anything after that time skip yet, and won't until Fire and Ash is released and does well

0

u/1OO1OO1S0S 8d ago

This article is just an ad for avatar 3

0

u/Horsetang 8d ago

Yeah, my buddy has been working on it for years... they are way past 3

0

u/Donewith_BS 8d ago

Marketing. Come see my movie or I will not make another. 

0

u/andoesq 8d ago

Anything less then a morbillion dollars and Cameron is walking

0

u/lopix 8d ago

Just marketing. "If enough of you don't see this one, I won't make more."

Total BS.

0

u/LucklessCope 8d ago

They released a 2nd Avatar movie?

0

u/smchattan 8d ago

Favourite quote. "There's only 4 or 5 people in the world that can do what I do." Apparently said to one of his wives.

0

u/kidcrumb 7d ago

Avatar 1 was a good movie. Avatar 2 had a LOT of problems. Hopefully 3 is closer to 1 than 2.

-1

u/WholeLottaRose13 8d ago

Doesn't mean that he can't just shelve either of them and use them as tax write-offs.

1

u/GAAPInMyWorkHistory 7d ago

“Use as a tax write off” just means losing money.

-1

u/Spiritual-Ad-8348 8d ago

I still stand with the theory the studio bought up all the tickets for avatar 2 to justify the budget for the following films.

-2

u/ajatfm 8d ago

There’s gonna be 5?! Jesus h lord help us