WhenAvatarmade its theatrical debut eleven years ago, it received overwhelming praise for its groundbreaking achievements in visual effects and CGI technology. Even today, the sci-fi epic remains to be a benchmark for technological excellence in film and television productions. Perhaps that is the reason whyThe Mandaloriancreator Jon Favreau - one of today’s most sought-after directors and a proponent of new film technologies himself - visited director James Cameron on the set ofAvatar 2in Los Angeles.
Jon Landau, the producer of the upcomingAvatarsequel, recently took to Instagram to post a behind-the-scenes photo that showed Favreau talking to Cameron on the set. The post was a refreshing update for fans of the franchise, who have been craving updates on the follow-up film for years. So far, not much has been revealed about the project, other than little breadcrumbs likeset photos left by Landauon social media here and there.
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Favreau reportedly made the visit to theAvatar 2set once production was set up and in full swing at the Los Angeles site. His interest inCameron’s technological workmakes sense when you look at his own projects, likeThe Jungle Bookfrom 2016 and, more recently,The Mandalorianseries on Disney Plus. Favreau has always been one to push the boundaries of digital filmmaking, just like Cameron. So, seeing the two brilliant minds on set discussing their craft was a true “fanboy” moment for Landau (and surely several other film enthusiasts out there).
When Cameron worked on the firstAvatarfilm, he apparently had to wait several years for computers and software technology to advance to the point where he could carry out his vision. That same reason could be why it has taken just a little over a decade for the sequel film to begin production. It’s hard to blame Cameron for taking his time, though - with the surge of visual masterpieces that have been released over the past couple of years, the expectations forAvatar 2will be much higher now than ever before.
To follow on the work of visionaries such asChristopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Alfonso Cuaron, and the sleuth of directors at Marvel Studios is no easy feat. With all that considered, it must be nice for Cameron to have someone like Favreau to throw ideas back and forth with. Whether or not Favreau will have direct involvement in the film has not been confirmed, so fans will just have to wait to see the film and find out for themselves.
Avatar 2will have Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang return to the series, with the story picking up over a decade after the events of the first film. There is also talk of anew character being introduced in theAvatarsequel, as well as the return of a threat that will ultimately disturb the balance in the world of Pandora and serve as the main conflict of the story.
Avatar 2is currently set to release in theatres on June 13, 2025.
