James Cameron to make three 'Avatar' sequels

Los Angeles: James Cameron is planning to keep the world of Pandora alive for some more time by bringing not two but three sequels to his mega blockbuster Avatar. Cameron has hired screenwriters Josh Friedman of War of the Worlds and Shane Salerno of Salinger fame to collaborate with him on the screenplays for the three films. [caption id=“attachment_1006647” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: Facebook[/caption] The three pictures will be filmed simultaneously with production beginning next year. The release of the first sequel will be in December 2016, with the second to follow in December 2017, and the third a year later. “In writing the new films, I’ve come to realize that Avatar’s world, story and characters have become even richer than I anticipated, and it became apparent that two films would not be enough to capture everything I wanted to put on screen. And to help me continue to expand this universe, I’m pleased to bring aboard Amanda, Rick, Shane and Josh — all writers I’ve long admired - to join me in completing the films screenplays,” Cameron said in a statement. All the three films will be produced by Cameron and Jon Landau through their Lightstorm Entertainment banner. “We at the studio have no higher priority, and can feel no greater joy, than enabling Jim to continue and expand his vision of the world of Avatar. The growing breadth and scale of Jim Cameron’s plans for his magnificent fantasy worlds continue to amaze us all,” said 20th Century Fox chairman and CEO, Jim Gianopulos. Avatar is the highest grossing film of all time. Cameron spent 15 years developing the technology to shoot the film in 3D. PTI