2009’s Avatar was one of the most expensive movies ever made, and one of the most successful at the box office too. This means that expectations are high for Avatar 2, so what do we know so far about the second instalment in this story?
The Story So Far
The original Avatar showed us how paraplegic human soldier Jake Sully used advanced technology to operate a Na’vi creature remotely. He fell in love with Neytiri and discovered a new home on the moon called Pandora. 2022 is set to see the release of Avatar 2, with the same characters as in the first film. Sam Worthington plays Sully and performance capture has been used to allow Zoe Saldana to take on the role of Neytiri once more.
The couple has started their own family on Pandora but the return of an ancient threat causes them to leave home and travel around Pandora looking for answers. A trailer that was released recently shows the Na’avi flying and apparently on their way to do battle, but reveals little more about the plot.
What Impact Did the Original Avatar Have?
The original Avatar movie drew mixed reactions, with some critics disappointed in the dialogue and overall plot. However, it was a massive success with the public and earned over $1.2 billion in profits despite the size of the budget. 12 years later, we’ll get a chance to see what the public’s enduring opinion of Avatar is.
Did Avatar introduce a new type of movie? Some analysts suggest that it was such a huge success partly because it introduced us to a blurring of real-life and the digital world, which was new in 2009 and is something even more relevant in 2022 thanks to the introduction of the metaverse in our lives and virtual world games like Decentraland.
Sci-fi has been a huge genre almost since George Méliès’ legendary A Trip to the Moon in 1902. Yet, Avatar arguably helped the genre to become even more popular. We can see how it spilt over into gaming as titles like James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game by Ubisoft gave players the chance to re-live the experience using 3D technology.
Sci-fi games have remained among the best-selling titles since then, with No Man’s Sky and The Outer Worlds helping to push the boundaries. The long-awaited Starfield from Bethesda should be out just before Avatar 2, in late 2022, and could complement the movie perfectly for science fiction fans looking for new ways to explore the universe.
In addition, sci-fi games can also be found within the online casino industry, where players are enticed, for instance, by promotions that allow them to get 100 free spins on Starburst when making their first deposit. This slot title, first launched in 2012 by NetEnt, has an intergalactic feel and has proved to be extremely popular with online audiences. Players can win up to 500x and the free spins offer come from big-name sites such as Hard Rock and BetMGM, and can immerse themselves in the captivating visuals of another world.
What Happens Next?
Avatar 2 was originally scheduled for a 2014 release. However, technical issues caused the filming to be put back, with the challenge of filming performance capture footage underwater one of the key factors that had to be resolved with new technology. Filming started in 2017 and lasted for three years. We can now expect to see the movie released in December 2022, with a further three sequels already planned for the future.
Thanks to the success of the original and this film’s budget of $250 million, Avatar 2 is one of the most highly-anticipated releases of all time.