According to Daily Mail, ‘Avatar’ director James Cameron is rushing the production of the series’ upcoming fourth and fifth installments due to his concerns that the actors might pass away by then.
As per insiders who spoke to Daily Mail, Cameron has growing concerns about the age of key cast members, including Sigourney Weaver, 74, and Stephen Lang, 71. Touching upon the financial aspect of making movies, they said:
“With a predominantly older cast, there have been discussions to read the scripts for the fourth film in its entirety and record the vocal performances in case the unthinkable – but destined for all of us – happens. So much money is being spent on these films. It is very important to complete all the performances physically, but more importantly, vocally. Nobody wants anyone to die, but James understands that Sigourney, Stephen, and Michelle are getting older, just as much as he is getting older, and anything can happen.”
Cameron Even Stored Their Faces To Be Used By AI
Technology also plays a role in Cameron’s plan, as he already digitized and stored actors’ faces on computers. This backup allows him to use artificial intelligence to replicate an actor’s performance if necessary. The insider continued:
“Everyone has stunt doubles, and everyone’s face is already in the computer. If anything were to happen, it wouldn’t be a quick AI fix, but there is so much technology being used in these films that what they have would help if the unthinkable happens. The third movie is basically done; there are just a handful of shots that they must take care of, but everything that needs to be done for the film has been captured, and it will be released on time.”
With the third ‘Avatar’ film nearing completion, the award-winning director is not taking any chances. These steps are seen as a measure to ensure the franchise continues if any cast member passes away before the end of production.
The Future of the ‘Avatar’ Franchise
The ‘Avatar’ franchise features a cast that includes not only Weaver and Lang but also Michelle Yeoh, 61, who is set to make her debut in the upcoming third movie.
Despite the ongoing concerns about the cast’s age, Cameron is also looking ahead, with plans for a sixth and seventh film already in discussion. However, the director hinted at the possibility of stepping down after the fifth film. As per the insider, this might not become a reality, though:
“James Cameron might stop at the fourth film and have someone else take over because he would like to do a couple of other things as he gets older. But he also has a tremendous ego, so he might stay put to finish the story.”
‘Avatar 3’ is set for December 19, 2025, followed by ‘Avatar 4’ on December 21, 2029, and ‘Avatar 5’ on December 19, 2031.
