Avatar 2 May Have a Release Date

James Cameron has been talking about his Avatar sequels for a long time, but the first of these is yet to be given an official release date. While this still remains the case, Fox has now scheduled a movie from Cameron's production company that may be the follow-up to his 2009 sci-fi blockbuster.

As Deadline reports, the studio has set a date of December 21, 2018 for a film from the director's Lightstorm Entertainment. Avatar 2 has been rumoured for Christmas 2018 release for some time, and Cameron himself has spoken about his hopes to have it ready by then.

In September, the director was asked about the movie arriving in December 2018. "We haven't moved that target yet," he told Variety. "The important thing for me is not when the first one comes out but the cadence of the release pattern. I want them to be released as close together as possible.

"If it's an annual appointment to show up at Christmas, I want to make sure that we're able to fulfill on that promise."

Earlier this month, Cameron revealed that he hoped to make Avatar 2 and the preceding three films in glasses-free 3D. "I'm going to push," he said. "Not only for better tools, workflow, high dynamic range and high frame rates--the things we are working toward. I'm still very bullish on 3D, but we need brighter projection, and ultimately I think it can happen--with no glasses. We'll get there."

The first Avatar earned $2.7 billion worldwide, making it the most successful movie ever made in terms of box office earnings.