Before we dive into the waters of Pandora, check out the epic new trailer for Avatar 2: The Way of Water below: If you’re familiar with James Cameron’s work, then you’ll know that he’s the master of movie sequels. Both Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Aliens (1986) are widely considered to be some of the best sequels ever made. But the approach Cameron took with those sequels is something he has evidently applied to Avatar: The Way of Water - in other words, they’re bigger than their predecessors in every possible way. Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Aliens expand upon the worlds first established in their respective predecessors, while also giving us many more characters, and as such, a much bigger cast. Terminator (1984) focused on three characters - Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) and the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), while Alien (1979) dealt only with Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her crew. Their sequels, however, feature much larger ensembles, and to no surprise, Avatar: The Way of Water will follow suit. While the long-awaited sequel will see the return of the main characters, there are plenty of new ones too. Returning characters are Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Mo’at (CCH Pounder), Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), Dr. Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore), Dr. Max Patel (Dileep Rao), and Corporal Lyle Wainfleet (Matt Gerald). However, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, who play Dr. Grace Augustine and Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar, will also be returning for Avatar: The Way of Water. However, this time, Weaver will be playing the adopted Na’vi daughter of Jake and Neytiri, while Lang will be reprising his role, but this time in Na’vi form. Newcomers to the Na’vi are Cliff Curtis (Tonowari), Jamie Flatters (Neteyam), Jeremy Irwin (Young Neteyam), Britain Dalton (Lo’ak), Chloe Coleman (Young Lo’ak), Trinity Bliss (Tuktirey), Bailey Bass (Tsireya), Filip Geljo (Aonung), Duane Evans Jr. (Rotxo), and Kate Winslet (Ronal). Newcomers to the human cast are Jack Champion (Javier “Spider” Socorro), Edie Falco (General Ardmore), Michelle Yeoh (Dr. Karina Mogue), Brendan Cowell (Captain Mick Scoresby), Jemaine Clement (Dr. Ian Garvin), Oona Chaplin (Varang), and Vin Diesel and CJ Jones in undisclosed roles. As per the official 20th Century Studios description, the synopsis for Avatar: The Way of Water is: Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Avatar 2: The Way of Water is scheduled for release in theaters on December 16. It will be released exclusively in theaters, as well as in the following formats - Dolby Cinema, IMAX, and IMAX 3D formats. Avatar 3 will release on December 20, 2024. Avatar 4 will follow on December 18, 2026, and Avatar 5 on December 22, 2028, respectively.
