James Cameron has begun to think about his next projects after many years of working on the "Avatar" universe. The director admitted that he has not yet decided on a direction and is considering various options – from independently directing new films to working as a screenwriter or producer.
"That's the big question for me right now. The "Avatar" universe has been going on for 21 years – we started in 2005. I took a brief detour to build a submersible and dive to the deepest point on the planet, as one does, and then came back. It's been pretty much non-stop ever since. Now I'm looking at the big picture and asking myself: what other stories do I want to tell? How many of them do I need to direct myself, and where can I be a writer or producer and bring in other directors?"
When choosing future projects, the director is guided not only by personal interest but also by the potential impact of his works. According to Cameron, he is currently drawing up a plan for his future career and evaluating ideas from the perspective of what benefit they can bring to viewers and future generations.
"For the last two weeks, I've literally been mapping it out for myself. At the top, in big letters, I wrote: 'What will bring the most benefit?' Then I started looking at favorite projects and asking: 'How will this improve our situation? How will this make the world better for our children?' I haven't made any decisions yet. I'm still charting, if you will, the final act. And I don't know if it will last a year or twenty years."
Among the projects Cameron has developed over the years are the war drama "Ghosts of Hiroshima," dedicated to a man who survived both atomic bombings, an adaptation of Joe Abercrombie's dark fantasy "The Devils," a new film in the "Terminator" franchise, and a sequel to "Alita: Battle Angel." The director did not specify which one would be next.
At the same time, the future of "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5" is also not fully determined. Producer Ray Sanchini previously reported that the scripts for the sequels are ready and the team is working on them, but Cameron later said that he is exploring new technologies that will allow the next films to be made faster and cheaper.
The preliminary release dates for "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5" are set for December 21, 2029, and December 19, 2031, respectively, but plans may change.