James Cameron Reveals Plans for Future Avatar Films and Final Career Act
- Filmmaker James Cameron is currently mapping out the final stage of his career, including a plan to complete the five-film Avatar saga.
- Cameron, who turns 72 this month, described himself as being in a liminal state while determining the scope of his remaining projects.
- The Avatar series has occupied a significant portion of Cameron's work for two decades, beginning with his shift into that world in 2005.
Filmmaker James Cameron is currently mapping out the final stage of his career, including a plan to complete the five-film Avatar saga. In a legacy interview with Denise Donlon, conducted in connection with Cameron receiving the Canadian Governor General Lifetime Achievement Award, the director stated he is evaluating which stories he wants to direct personally and which he may delegate to other filmmakers.
Cameron, who turns 72 this month, described himself as being in a liminal state while determining the scope of his remaining projects. He noted that he does not yet know if this final phase of his professional life will last one year or 20 years.
The Status of the Avatar Franchise
The Avatar series has occupied a significant portion of Cameron’s work for two decades, beginning with his shift into that world in 2005. While he has directed three of the planned five films, including the most recent Avatar: Fire & Ash, the franchise has experienced a box-office decline compared to previous installments, according to reporting from Dark Horizons.
When I shifted into the ‘Avatar’ world, which was 2005, I went down that path [of naturism]. I’m still kind of midway in that saga. I have films I want to make outside of that world. But you know that’s not even a story that’s finished for me…Three out of five, and counting.
James Cameron to Denise Donlon
Production on the fourth film has already begun in a limited capacity, with Cameron filming some scenes during the production of Avatar: Fire & Ash. However, Disney has not yet provided official approval for the final two movies in the sequence.
Criteria for Future Productions
Cameron spent two weeks developing a specific framework to decide his future involvement in various projects. He told Donlon that he placed the question What will do the most good? in block letters at the top of his planning documents.
This criteria involves assessing how specific projects might improve the human condition or benefit future generations. This evaluation process is intended to help him decide whether to serve as a director, writer, or producer on his remaining ideas.
So this is the point where I’m looking at the landscape and asking, ‘What are the other stories I want to tell? How many of them do I need to direct myself versus writing and/or producing with other filmmakers?
And the criterion I’ve literally mapped this out for myself over the last two weeks: I started with, ‘What will do the most good?’ I put that in block letters at the top. And I started looking at all the projects I’m most fond of, asking, ‘How’s this going to improve our condition? How’s that going to make the world better for our kids?’
James Cameron to Denise Donlon
Other Projects in Development
Beyond the Avatar universe, Cameron maintains a slate of diverse projects in various stages of development. These include:
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