[imagesource:wonderai]

James Cameron has described the two-year post-production process of Avatar 3 as “hectic” during a recent interview with the New Zealand press.

The filmmaker has also indicated that he will be using New Zealand as his main production hub from now on, as well as announcing his plan to make movies there “indefinitely”.

Cameron also revealed that he will finally become a New Zealand citizen in 2024 – He has been working in New Zealand since 2005 when the first Avatar movie started development.

“We’re into a very hectic two years of post-production right now,” Cameron confirmed when asked about the third Avatar movie. “So it will be Christmas of 2025.”

In June, Disney announced that Cameron’s three upcoming Avatar sequels will be pushed back again, extending the saga into 2031.

The studio, which acquired the Avatar franchise after its merger with Fox, had originally planned to release Cameron’s additional Avatar sequels two years apart, with the third movie arriving in 2024. But now Avatar 3 is only opening in December 2025, Avatar 4 in 2029, and Avatar 5 in 2031.

Based on this timeline, and if the world still revolves around the sun, the final Avatar movie will be released 22 years after the original 2009 blockbuster.

While some critics doubted whether Avatar 3: The Way of Water would be a hit, Cameron shut the naysayers up when the sequel generated $2.3 billion (R41 billion) in worldwide ticket sales, becoming the third-highest-grossing film in movie history.

“Great! “I’ll be 53 when the last Avatar comes out,” franchise star Zoe Saldana joked on Instagram after the new release date was revealed. “I was 27 when I shot the very first Avatar.”

When the final film hits theatres, Saldana’s co-star Sam Worthington, who plays Jake Sully in the films, will be 55 years old. Cameron will turn 77 this year.

Cameron has hinted that Avatar 3 will feature a “more aggressive Na’vi race”. Earlier this year, producer Jon Landau told Empire magazine that the group is the Ash People, who are defined as “an aggressive, volcanic race” of Na’vi led by Varang, played by Game of Thrones star, and Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter, Oona Chaplin.

Cameron stated at a recent press conference in New Zealand that all of the remaining Avatar films, as well as any future projects he hopes to direct, will be shot in the country.

“It brings so much into the economy here, so much cultural prestige to the country, and it’s an opportunity for so many young people coming up to think of themselves as empowered on the global stage.”

Watch the full interview below.

[source:variety]