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James Cameron announces four 'Avatar' sequels

By Rebecca Ford, The Hollywood Reporter

Updated 0131 GMT (0931 HKT) April 15, 2016

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When it comes to sequels, few have been as longed for as "<strong>Finding Dory</strong>," the followup to Disney/Pixar's heartwarming 2003 hit, "Finding Nemo." It arrived in theaters June 17.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
When it comes to sequels, few have been as longed for as "Finding Dory," the followup to Disney/Pixar's heartwarming 2003 hit, "Finding Nemo." It arrived in theaters June 17.
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The "X-Men" franchise was revived with 2011's "X-Men: First Class" and 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Now we have "<strong>X-Men: Apocalypse</strong>," which hit North American theaters May 27.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
The "X-Men" franchise was revived with 2011's "X-Men: First Class" and 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Now we have "X-Men: Apocalypse," which hit North American theaters May 27.
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Michael Bay's 2014 take on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" suffered some criticism but did well enough at the box office to make a sequel an obvious choice. Reporter April and her four turtle friends returned to theaters June 3 in "<strong>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows</strong>."
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Michael Bay's 2014 take on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" suffered some criticism but did well enough at the box office to make a sequel an obvious choice. Reporter April and her four turtle friends returned to theaters June 3 in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows."
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Vivica A. Fox reprised her role as Jasmine Dubrow in "<strong>Independence Day: Resurgence</strong>," the sequel to the hit 1996 film. Also starring Liam Hemsworth and original cast member Jeff Goldblum, the film opened June 24.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Vivica A. Fox reprised her role as Jasmine Dubrow in "Independence Day: Resurgence," the sequel to the hit 1996 film. Also starring Liam Hemsworth and original cast member Jeff Goldblum, the film opened June 24.
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Elizabeth Banks will direct the third installment of "<strong>Pitch Perfect" </strong>whose release date has been moved up to July 2017 from August, <a href="http://variety.com/2016/film/news/pitch-perfect-3-release-date-1201769637/" target="_blank">Variety reported. </a>
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Elizabeth Banks will direct the third installment of "Pitch Perfect" whose release date has been moved up to July 2017 from August, Variety reported.
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Fans of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" have a bit of a wait for the sequel. <strong>"Star Wars: Episode VIII"</strong> isn't due to be released until December 15, 2017.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Fans of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" have a bit of a wait for the sequel. "Star Wars: Episode VIII" isn't due to be released until December 15, 2017.
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The last time we saw Eddie Murphy as Detective Axel Foley, it was in 1994's "Beverly Hills Cop III." But the passage of time is nothing to a movie studio eager to bet on a proven franchise; "<strong>Beverly Hills Cop 4</strong>," again starring Murphy as Foley, is in the works.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
The last time we saw Eddie Murphy as Detective Axel Foley, it was in 1994's "Beverly Hills Cop III." But the passage of time is nothing to a movie studio eager to bet on a proven franchise; "Beverly Hills Cop 4," again starring Murphy as Foley, is in the works.
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Eddie Redmayne stars as magician Newt Scamander in "<strong>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</strong>," a prequel to the Harry Potter series. The movie opens November 18.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Eddie Redmayne stars as magician Newt Scamander in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a prequel to the Harry Potter series. The movie opens November 18.
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Marvel's "<strong>Guardians of the Galaxy</strong>" was going to be either a complete disaster or a big hit; lucky for us, it was the latter. Following the August 2014 release's insane run at the box office, Marvel is planning to deliver a second "Guardians" on May 5, 2017.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" was going to be either a complete disaster or a big hit; lucky for us, it was the latter. Following the August 2014 release's insane run at the box office, Marvel is planning to deliver a second "Guardians" on May 5, 2017.
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"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was a pleasant surprise in 2011, and 2014's sequel, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," was considered one of the best releases of the summer. All of that means the still untitled third installment, "<strong>War for the Planet of the Apes</strong>" due July 14, 2017, has a lot to live up to. Also arriving that month will be another "Bourne" installment, as well as "Ice Age 5."
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was a pleasant surprise in 2011, and 2014's sequel, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," was considered one of the best releases of the summer. All of that means the still untitled third installment, "War for the Planet of the Apes" due July 14, 2017, has a lot to live up to. Also arriving that month will be another "Bourne" installment, as well as "Ice Age 5."
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The third "<strong>How to Train Your Dragon</strong>" animated movie is due out in summer 2017.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
The third "How to Train Your Dragon" animated movie is due out in summer 2017.
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At this point, Johnny Depp might want to consider making his eyeliner permanent. The actor is stepping into Captain Jack Sparrow's costume once again for the fifth "<strong>Pirates of the Caribbean</strong>" film, subtitled "Dead Men Tell No Tales." It's scheduled for July 2017.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
At this point, Johnny Depp might want to consider making his eyeliner permanent. The actor is stepping into Captain Jack Sparrow's costume once again for the fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, subtitled "Dead Men Tell No Tales." It's scheduled for July 2017.
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Comic-book Thor may now be a woman, but at the movies, Chris Hemsworth is still wielding the hero's hammer. Following "Thor" and "Thor: The Dark World," the third installment, "Thor: Ragnarok," is slated for July 28, 2017.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Comic-book Thor may now be a woman, but at the movies, Chris Hemsworth is still wielding the hero's hammer. Following "Thor" and "Thor: The Dark World," the third installment, "Thor: Ragnarok," is slated for July 28, 2017.
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The penguins from Dreamworks' "Madagascar" films have turned into breakout stars. The scheming seabirds had a movie all of their own called "Penguins of Madagascar." In 2018, we'll also get a fourth installment of the "Madagascar" series.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
The penguins from Dreamworks' "Madagascar" films have turned into breakout stars. The scheming seabirds had a movie all of their own called "Penguins of Madagascar." In 2018, we'll also get a fourth installment of the "Madagascar" series.
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Marvel already has two more "Avengers" movies on the calendar: "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" opens May 2018, followed by "Avengers: Infinity War Part 2" in May 2019. (Not to mention "Captain America: Civil War" on May 6, 2016.)
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Marvel already has two more "Avengers" movies on the calendar: "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" opens May 2018, followed by "Avengers: Infinity War Part 2" in May 2019. (Not to mention "Captain America: Civil War" on May 6, 2016.)
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Fans will have to wait till June 2019 for "The Incredibles 2," with "Cars 3" coming in June 2017 and "Toy Story 4" in June 2018. "Anytime you dedicate another couple of hours of screen time, you'll hopefully expand the world (of 'The Incredibles') a bit," said director Brad Bird. "It's fun for me to pick up the same characters and do new things with them. I'm enjoying it."
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
Fans will have to wait till June 2019 for "The Incredibles 2," with "Cars 3" coming in June 2017 and "Toy Story 4" in June 2018. "Anytime you dedicate another couple of hours of screen time, you'll hopefully expand the world (of 'The Incredibles') a bit," said director Brad Bird. "It's fun for me to pick up the same characters and do new things with them. I'm enjoying it."
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A new and improved Godzilla stormed into theaters in May 2014, and in 2018, we'll get a second look at the fearsome monster. That's just the beginning, though, with "Godzilla vs. King Kong" in 2020.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
A new and improved Godzilla stormed into theaters in May 2014, and in 2018, we'll get a second look at the fearsome monster. That's just the beginning, though, with "Godzilla vs. King Kong" in 2020.
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It's been a while, but James Cameron is finally making a return to Pandora in December 2018 with "<strong>Avatar 2</strong>." The followup to the 2009 blockbuster will be followed by more sequels in 2020, 2022 and 2023. "It's going to be a true epic saga," Cameron said. Here's a look at some other high-profile upcoming releases that continue popular movie franchises.
Photos: Sequel mania: A guide to the next few years of film
It's been a while, but James Cameron is finally making a return to Pandora in December 2018 with "Avatar 2." The followup to the 2009 blockbuster will be followed by more sequels in 2020, 2022 and 2023. "It's going to be a true epic saga," Cameron said. Here's a look at some other high-profile upcoming releases that continue popular movie franchises.
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Finding Dory moviesuperheroes xmenteenage mutant ninja turlesRESTRICTED Vivica A. Fox Independence Day15 movies 2015star wars force awakens trailer 112 sequelsHarry Potter Fantastic Beastsgaurdians of the galaxy Dawn of the Planet of the Apeshow to train your dragon 2sequels.piratesthorsequels.madagascarAvengers03 incredibles 2004godzilla 2avatar

Story highlights

  • 'Avatar' director James Cameron found planning only three sequels too limiting
  • 'Avatar 2' will release at Christmas 2018, followed by new films in 2020, 2022 and 2023

(The Hollywood Reporter)Fox ended its CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas on Thursday with a surprise guest: James Cameron.

The filmmaker announced that there will be four "Avatar" sequels, not the previously planned three. "We have decided to embark on a truly massive cinematic process," he said.
    Cameron said as he was planning the three sequels, he found it limiting. "We began to bump up against the limitations for our art form," he said, explaining that he decided he would need more installments to tell the whole story.
    james cameron deep sea exploration_00032403.jpg
    james cameron deep sea exploration_00032403.jpg

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    Cameron said each of the four sequels will be able to stand alone, but will together create a saga. His goal is to release "Avatar 2" at Christmas 2018 and then a new film in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
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    "I've been working the last couple of years with a team of four top screenwriters," he said, "to design the world of 'Avatar' going forward: The characters, the creatures, the environment, the new cultures.
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    "So far, the art I'm seeing, is in pure imagination, really far beyond the first film," he added. "It's going to be a true epic saga."
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    The original 2009 film earned $2.8 billion worldwide.
    Cameron also spoke at length in support of the theatrical experience.
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    "So together, we're going to continue to make this industry the greatest show on earth. That's what we do," he said to hearty applause.
    Cameron also slammed the Screening Room, saying, "I think it's absolutely essential for movies to be offered exclusively in theaters on their initial release."

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