Avatar two-part sequel four years away

We’re going to have to wait a little longer than expected for more Avatar.

After it’s hugely successful 2009 release, everyone knew James Cameron’s Avatar would have a sequel or two.

We were initially told the sequel could arrive as early as the summer of 2013 (or so), but to hit that mark, the new movie would have to be filming by now.

Instead, it hasn’t even passed the development phase. So, how long do we have to wait?

Jon Landau, the franchise producer, told Bleeding Cool that the next film is “four years away,” which could theoretically mean a holiday 2015 release. Then again, it is more likely the studio will want the film to hit during the 2016 Blockbuster season.

The sequel is slated to be a dual film, with the two parts being filmed concurrently, so we can probably expect the third Avatar film to be out roughly a year after the second one.

There is no synopsis for the film yet, or even much of a hint as to what it will be about, except the expectation that Sully and Natiri will return for more adventures and tail-braiding.

What we surely know is that the movie will use the most advanced technology available, and as impressive as the first one was, the new one already has more potential, just looking at the few advances in CGI and mo-cap since 2009.

See Rise of the Planet of the Apes for an example.