Director James Cameron announced today that he will make three sequels to the 2009 sci-fi hit Avatar in New Zealand.
Cameron made the announcement after speaking with producer Jon Landau and Prime Minister John Key. The films will be produced by Lighstorm Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox.
Avatar was shot originally in New Zealand and won three Academy Awards and one of the highest grossing projects in filmmaking history. James Cameron expects to film all three sequels at one time and release the film in three seperate parts. The first release is expected in Christmas 2016 followed by a release every year afterward for three years until 2018.
“It's quite a thrill to be officially saying that we're bringing the Avatar films to New Zealand,” he told a press conference. “We had such a wonderful experience here making the first film.”
Cameron aid he has already started writing and desiging the sequels to Avatar.
New Zealand's government has offered and agreed to a 25% tax rebate for the film. So, New Zealand will pay for 25% of all costs for filming. The agreement also states that Lightstorm and Twentieth Century Fox will spend at least $413 million dollars in New Zealand on the movies.
The Prime Minister John Key commented on the project. Key said the announcement comes with excitement and relief for the New Zealand film industry.
The industry had been facing a downturn as work winds down on Jackson's trilogy.
“It's a day of great celebration,” Key said. “It's a great Christmas present for those involved in making world class movies.”
