“Avatar 2” may still be a long ways to go as it is still due to hit theaters on December 25, 2017, but during the recently-concluded New York ComicCon held on October 10 to 11, critically-acclaimed producer, writer, and director James Cameron announced a new comic book series on the Avatar universe.
Without Cameron saying it directly during the event, the upcoming comic book series, which will be set on the planet of Pandora, will certainly give the upcoming movie an early promotional boost.
Cameron said that he was partnering with Dark Horse Comics to bring the world of Avatar to the comic books. He added that it will shed more light on the mythology and history of the beloved film franchise, details The Guardian.
The “Avatar 2” director added that for the past 27 years, Dark Horse has been associated with some of his films including “The Terminator,” “Aliens,” and the “The Abyss.”
A thirst quencher
Cameron said that he is excited that between now and the release of “Avatar 2,” Dark Horse will be bringing new adventures from Pandora that cover the time before, during, and after the events of the original film.
The new comic book series will also serve as a thirst quencher because “Avatar” was shown way back in 2009 while its first sequel “Avatar 2” will still make it to cinemas late in 2017. The next two sequels “Avatar 3” and “Avatar 4” will make it to theaters in December 2018 and December 2019, respectively.
Mike Richardson, president and publisher of Dark Horse Comics, said that he could not be more excited about working with James Cameron and his team at Lightstorm to expand the breathtaking world of Pandora in the comic books.
The Hometree and the ocean ecosystem
“Avatar” revolves on the Hometree, a giant tree where the Na’vi clan usually holds their gatherings. The tree is very important to Pandora and its destruction could damage the biological neural network of the place, details the Parent Herald.
In “Avatar 2,” in addition to the Hometree, the sequel shall also focus on the ocean ecosystem of Pandora as a way for James Cameron to express his sentiments over conservation efforts to preserve and protect the Earth’s oceans and the ecosystems in it.
The director said that if people do not watch out and take immediate measures, the beautiful corals that can be seen in the world’s oceans today will no longer exist 50 years from now so it is important that people become more aware and concern about the environment.
More than eyeing to match or surpass the box-office success of “Avatar” as the most successful film in history, Cameron wants viewers to enjoy the sequel “Avatar 2” in the most interactive way possible.
He has been employing state-of-the-art filming technology in the shooting of not just the sequel but also the next two films of the franchise – “Avatar 3” and “Avatar 4.” These were, in fact, the reasons why from a 2016 playdate, “Avatar 2” has been moved to a December 2017 release to global theaters.
In a recent interview, Cameron said that it is mainly because of the technological constraints given the advanced technology and filmmaking equipment needed for the filming that prompted them to push back the release date of the movie.
Cameron said that he wanted to show a novel ecosystem in Pandora which means various underwater scenes that needed cutting-edge motion capture technology for higher frame rates, sharper visuals, and realism.
The director added that he wants nothing but the best for “Avatar 2” and that is why he is not pressured into releasing the sequel to the most successful film in history based on ever growing fan clamor.
Instead, he is taking his sweet time in making a really good movie, perhaps even thinking of equalling or surpassing the feat of “Avatar” when it was released in 2009.