Few details are known about Avatar 2, but it’s shaping up to be even better than the original movie. Avatar takes place on the alien world of Pandora, inhabited by indigenous-coded blue aliens known as the Na’vi. Its sequel, originally planned for release in 2014, intends to offer a more complex story that gives more detail of both Pandora and the native people who live there. After years of work, James Cameron's Avatar 2 is full of promise.

James Cameron’s Avatar is still the highest-grossing movie of all time, breaking several Box Office records following its release in 2009. Cameron originally started work on the movie in 1994, writing an 80-page treatment. Part of the reason it took 15 years to go from script to screen was the need to use brand new visual effects technology which needed time to mature before it would match Cameron’s vision for the finished movie. With that in mind, it’s understandable that Avatar 2 has also taken over a decade to make.

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The story of Avatar 2 looks to be more detailed than its predecessor in nearly every way. While Avatar had a fairly straightforward narrative, the sequel promises complexity, with both human heroes and Na'vi villains. The main focus of the new story is family, specifically the family of Jake and Neytiri, the two protagonists of the first movie. The plot, in broad strokes, will involve them being forced to leave their home and head into regions of Pandora which haven’t been shown on-screen before. A big part of the story's theme will reportedly be about the lengths to which people will go to keep their family together — an interesting concept given that, in the new story, Neytiri and Jake will have an adopted human son in their family, going by the name of Spider. This added emotional depth should help elevate the movie above some of the original Avatar's less lauded aspects.

Avatar 2 Jake Neytiri Kids Family Romance SR

Avatar 2 will also prominently feature the oceans, with extensive sections of the story being both on Pandora's beaches and underwater. Cameron has said in interviews that the intention is to introduce something similar to the floating mountains in the original movie, as a visually spectacular environment but also as a setting for the story to return to. Once again, this has involved the development of new technology for filming to take place, using motion capture of actors who’re actually underwater. This was reportedly to make the scenes look more visually real than would be possible in a so-called “dry for wet” setup with actors on wires.

Another exciting thing about the new movie is the fact that it’ll show more detailed worldbuilding. The culture of the Na’vi will be given greater depth. Actor Cliff Curtis is bringing Māori influence from his own cultural heritage to his role as Tonowari, the leader of a Na’vi clan called the Metkayina, who live on Pandora’s reefs and reportedly may have fins and thicker tails. Other aspects are hinted at by returning characters. Sigourney Weaver's return suggests that Dr Grace Augustine may have survived the events of the first movie in some form, while Stephen Lang will be reprising his role as the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch. Lang has reportedly said in interviews, “it’s not over while I’ve still got DNA,” suggesting that the returning Quaritch may be a clone.

Overall, Avatar 2 promises to be every bit as visually spectacular as the original movie, while giving a much more detailed story. Cameron reportedly left a few scenes in the original move specifically to lead into the sequel, which will only drive speculation leading up to the movie's release. Some have even questioned whether Avatar 2's Box Office performance could even beat the original Avatar. While time will tell, the project remains undeniably exciting.

Next: Avatar 2's New Locations Can Fix Its Na'vi Story Problem

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