James Cameron has set Sigourney Weaver to return in the three Avatar sequels scheduled to begin production later this year, the Oscar-winning filmmaker announced today.
Weaver joins previously announced cast returnees Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana and Stephen Lang.
Commented James Cameron: “Sigourney and I have a long creative history, dating back to 1985 when we made ‘Aliens.’ We’re good friends who’ve always worked well together, so it just feels right that she’s coming back for the ‘Avatar’ sequels. Her character of Grace Augustine, as fans know, died in the first movie, so she’s playing a different and in many ways more challenging character in the upcoming films. We’re both looking forward to this new creative challenge, the latest chapter in our long and continuing collaboration.”
The as yet untitled Avatar sequels will be filmed back-to-back. The release of the first follow-up will be in December 2016, with the second to follow in December 2017, and the third a year later.
Avatar 2, 3, and 4 will be produced by Cameron and Jon Landau through their Lightstorm Entertainment.
Avatar is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in nearly $2.8 billion in worldwide box office. It is also the top-selling Blu-ray disc of all time. Avatar won Golden Globe awards for Best Motion Picture and Best Director; and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won Oscars for art direction, visual effects and cinematography.